HANDS ON
My Other Airplane
Is a ’ 59 Bonanza
Patty Wagstaff buys a retro V-tail
BY MARK PHELPS
SINCE THIS COLUMN IS all about keeping old airplanes relevant in
today’s operating environment, this is a story of one such aircraft.
In shopping for a set of wings, the first consideration should be to
match the airplane to the mission. You start with the most basic
elements—number of seats, range, performance, avionics capability—
and distill the list of pros and cons down further from there.
Sometimes, the choice between two options comes down to a detail
as minor as upholstery color. Sometimes, it’s even more intangible
than that.
Patty Wagstaff, EAA 200806, is best known for her rip-snorting,
fire-breathing Extra 300S, an air show superstar. The two of them
continue to be one of the largest draws on the air show circuit, and
the Extra is the ideal platform for completing its mission—jaw-drop-
ping aerobatics. But she also has a need to get around, and with her
frequent travel mates—two dogs and a parrot
named Buddha—the Extra isn’t entirely
practical as a transportation vehicle. So ear-
lier this year, Patty decided that a slightly
tamer 1959 V-tail Bonanza was just what the
doctor ordered. She loves the fresh modern
paint, but also the retro panel look, including
the classic “piano key” switches, and plans
to keep the airplane mostly stock. But there’s
a modest list of modern accessories and
upgrades that help make this old airplane
relevant as a modern traveling machine.
