I have been fortunate enough to own A36 E-283, VH-RNM since 1973 when she was ferried out from Santa Monica, Ca with only 150 hours on the clock. Since then my family and I have flown both RNM and her 1974 sistership, E-581, VH FCT around Australia many times including to Papua New Guinea in 1998 with the Australian Bonanza Society. Both aircraft are equipped and maintained with King IFR gear, weigh just over 2200lbs empty, and go between 165-170 TAS at 23" 2300RPM depending on load. This photo shows both based outside their hangers at our airport just outside of Melbourne, Australia where they are available for hire at A$199/hr wet (approx. US$120/hr). If anyone is interested in flying the best aeroplanes in the best flying country in the world (low mountains, good weather, little traffic and friendly locals) give us a call on +61 3 9739 1211 or email to rogerm@mail.austasia.net

The second photo shows the latest addition, our 1968 V35 D-8825 VH-FWE at an outback airstrip at Lake Mungo, in the state of New South Wales last weekend. We find the two-bladed prop a little noisier and more prone to picking up nicks from stones at unsealed airstrips such as this one, but it handles ice better as less of the total blade area gets iced up. She has Narco IFR gear and an S-Tec 50 Autopilot and is also available for hire at A$199/hr wet (approx US$120/hr). Again, if anyone is interested in flying the best aeroplanes in the best flying country in the world (low mountains, good weather, little traffic and friendly locals) give us a call on +61 3 9739 1211 or email at rogerm@mail.austasia.net

Roger Merridew

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