This is the story of owning and operating a 1993 Beech Bonanza A36 in the UK and some of its adventures.
I finished my Night Rating tonight after flying 5.5 hours over two evenings. I really enjoyed the change of view and loved flying solo in the Bonanza.
There are so many cockpit lighting combinations I wasn't sure which to have turned on etc but by the end of the course I realised that it was most pleasant with the map reading light that is in the bottom of the yoke turned on and all cockpit, panel and flood lights turned off. This gave a nice soft glow to the Bonanza cockpit and a good view outside.
Night flying is really a very different experience and much more different than I expected it to be. The first night was moonless and it was really hard to see any mountains etc but the second night was very different with much more moonlight.
Having a night rating will no doubt expand the envelope greatly that I can use the plane because being based at Blackpool they are usually open when I want to return in the dark. I suppose I just need to be away from airfields that close at darkness now
