Bonanza
Beechcraft Bonanza BE33 taking off in the UK.
Type	Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Beechcraft
Designed by	Ralph Harmon (lead engineer)
Maiden flight	1945-12-22
Introduced	1947
Status	Active service
Produced	1947-present
Number built	>17,000
Unit cost	≈US$700,000 (2006)
Variants	Beechcraft Baron Bay Super V Bonanza

A 1965 S35 version, this is an example of the popular V-Tailed Bonanza

BE33 (N567M) at Cambridge Bay Airport, Nunavut, Canada

1950 B35 still operated by the National Test Pilot School at the Mojave Airport

The Beechcraft Bonanza is a general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by The Beech Aircraft Corporation. A utility aircraft is a general-purpose light plane or helicopter usually used for transporting people or freight but also for other duties when a more specialised aircraft is not required An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts Hawker Beechcraft The Beech Aircraft Corporation, previously the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon and now a unit of Hawker Beechcraft, is a United The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Beginning in the late 1940s the United States aircraft company Bay Aviation (formerly Oakland Aeromotive produced nine twin- engine conversions of the Beechcraft Cambridge Bay Airport is located at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada, and is operated by the government of Nunavut Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the The National Test Pilot School (NTPS is the only civilian school of the seven largest Test pilot schools in the world General aviation (abbr GA) is one of two categories of Civil aviation. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1947 Events January January 26, A KLM Douglas Dakota crashed Hawker Beechcraft The Beech Aircraft Corporation, previously the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon and now a unit of Hawker Beechcraft, is a United As of 2007 it is still being produced by Hawker Beechcraft. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is the name of a holding company formed by Onex Corporation and Goldman Sachs to acquire the aircraft manufacturing assets of Raytheon More than 17,000 Bonanzas have been built.

Design and development

Designed by a team led by Ralph Harmon, the original model 35 Bonanza was the first truly modern high-performance personal aircraft: a very fast, all-metal, low-wing monoplane at a time when most light aircraft were still made of wood and fabric. The Model 35 featured retractable landing gear and its signature V-tail (equipped with a combination elevator-rudder called a ruddervator), which made it both highly efficient and the most distinctive private aircraft in the sky. In Aviation, the undercarriage or landing gear is the structure (usually wheels that supports an Aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi In aircraft a V-tail (sometimes called a "butterfly tail" is an unconventional arrangement of the tail control surfaces that replaces the traditional fin and horizontal The prototype 35 Bonanza made its first flight on December 22, 1945, with the first production aircraft debuting as 1947 models. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar

At the end of World War II two all-metal aircraft emerged, the Model 35 Bonanza and the Cessna 195, that represented very different approaches to the premium-end of the postwar civil aviation market. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout With its high wing, seven cylinder radial engine and fixed undercarriage, the Cessna 195 was little more than a continuation of prewar technology; the 35 Bonanza, however, was more like the great fighters developed during the war, featuring a more powerful and easier to manage horizontally-opposed six cylinder engine, a rakishly streamlined shape, retractable undercarriage and low-wing configuration. The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion Engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central In Aviation, the undercarriage or landing gear is the structure (usually wheels that supports an Aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi

A series of fatal accidents caused many to suspect flaws in the V-tail structural design. An exhaustive study by Beech concluded that the cause was primarily the prevalent use of the Bonanza for long-distance travel in all types of weather, and that the inflight breakups were mainly the result of excursions into extreme turbulence (as might be found in thunderstorms), not any inherent flaw in the design. Other types, such as the Cessna 210, that were similarly employed did not have the same breakup rate as the Bonanza, and a more likely explanation was that the leading edges of the stabilizers were cantilevered too far ahead of the main spars. FAA issued two Airworthiness Directives covering the V-tail. An Airworthiness Directive (commonly abbreviated as AD) is a notification to Aircraft owner and operator of a known safety deficiency with a particular model of aircraft The first (AD 2002-21-13) applied only to the earliest 35, A35, and B35 models built in 1947 to 1950, and mandated a detailed inspection and repair procedure. The second (AD 94-20-04 R2) required a one-time inspection of the empennage structure, reinforced the need for correct balancing of the control surfaces and tensioning of the cables, and included the installation of a cuff securing the leading edge of the stabilizers to the fuselage skins.

In 1982 the V-tail Bonanza was dropped from production, though more than 6,000 V-tail models are still flying today. In general aviation circles, the epithet "fork-tailed doctor killer" became a familiar denigration of the V-tail model. Many V-tailed Model 35 Bonanzas are still flying, and they command a premium price on the used aircraft market.

The conventional-tail Model 33 continued in production until 1995. Still built today is the Model 36 Bonanza, a longer-bodied, straight-tail variant of the original design, introduced in 1968.

All Bonanzas share an unusual feature: the yoke and rudder pedals are interconnected by a system of flexible bungees which assist in keeping the airplane in coordinated flight during turns. In Aviation, coordinated flight of an Aircraft is flight without sideslip. The bungee system allows the pilot to make coordinated turns using the yoke alone, or with minimal rudder input, during cruise flight. On takeoff increased right-rudder pressure is still required to overcome torque and P-factor. A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about P-factor, also known as asymmetric blade effect and asymmetric disc effect is an aerodynamic phenomenon experienced by a moving Propeller with a high Angle of In the landing phase the bungee system must be over-ridden by the pilot when making crosswind landings and cross-controlled inputs are required to keep the nose of the airplane aligned with the runway centerline without drifting left or right. A crosswind landing is a Landing maneuver in which a significant component of the prevailing wind is perpendicular to the Runway centerline This feature started with the V-tail and persists on the current production model.

The twin-engine variant of the Bonanza is called the Baron, whereas the Twin Bonanza is a different design and not based on the original single-engine Bonanza fuselage. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

QU-22 Pave Eagle

The QU-22 was a Beech 36/A36 Bonanza modified during the Vietnam War to be an electronic monitoring signal relay aircraft, developed under the project name "Pave Eagle" for the United States Air Force. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia A reduction geared Continental IO-520 engine was used to reduce its noise signature, much like the later Army-Lockheed YO-3A. The Lockheed YO-3A "Quiet Star" was an American single-engined propeller-driven monoplane that was developed for Battlefield observation These aircraft were intended to be used as unmanned drones to monitor sensors along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and report troop and supply movements. The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam through Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma However when the project was put into operation in 1968, the drones were all flown by pilots of the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron.

Six YQU-22A prototypes (modifications of the Beech 33 Debonair) were combat-tested in 1968 and two lost during operations, with a civilian test pilot killed. 27 QU-22Bs were modified, 13 in 1969 and 14 in 1970, with 6 lost in combat. Two Air Force pilots were killed in action. All of the losses were due to engine failures or effects of turbulence. ^[1]

Variants

Model 33 Debonair/Bonanza (BE33)

35-33 Debonair

(1959) An M35 Bonanza with conventional fin and tailplane, one 225hp Continental IO-470-J, 233 built.

35-A33 Debonair

(1961) Model 33 with rear side windows and improved interior trim, 154 built.

35-B33 Debonair

(1962-1964) A33 with contoured fin leading edge, N35 fuel tank modifications and P35 instrument panel, 426 built.

35-C33 Debonair

(1965-1967) B33 with teardrop rear side windows, enlarged fin fairing and improved seats, 305 built.

35-C33A Debonair

(1966-1967) C33 with a 285hp Continental IO-520-B engine and optional fifth seat, 179

D33 Debonair

One S35 modified as a military close-support prototype.

E33 Bonanza

(1968-1969) C33 with improved Bonanza trim, 116 built.

E33A Bonanza

(1968) E33 with a 285hp Continental IO-520-B engine, 85 built.

E33B Bonanza

E33 with strengthened airframe and certified for aerobatics.

E33C Bonanza

(1968-1969) E33B with a 285hp Continental IO-520-B engine, 25 built.

F33 Bonanza

(1970) E33 with deeper rear side windows and minor improvements, 20 built.

F33A Bonanza

(1970-1994) F33 with a 285hp Continental IO-520-B engine, later aircraft have a longer S35/V35 cabin and extra seats, 821 built.

F33C Bonanza

(1970) F33A certified for aerobatics, 118 built.

G33 Bonanza

(1972-1980) F33 with a 260hp Continental IO-470-N engine and V35B trim, 50 built.

Model 35 Bonanza (BE35)

1965 Model V35

35 

(1947-1948), main production with 165hp Continental E-185-1 engine, 1500 built.

A35

(1949) Model 35 with higher take-off weight, and minor internal changes, 701 built.

B35

(1950) A35 with a 165hp Continental E-185-8 engine and other minor changes, 480 built.

C35

(1951-1952) B35 with a 185hp Continental E-185-11 engine, metal propeller, larger tail surfaces and higher take-off weight, 719 built.

D35

(1953) C35 with increased Take-off weight and minor changes, 298 built.

E35

(1954) D35 with optional E-225-8 engine and minor changes, 301 built.

F35

(1955) E35 with extra rear window each side, 392 built.

G35

(1956) F35 with a Continental E-225-8 engine, 476 built.

H35

(1957) G35 with a Continental O-470-G engine, strengthened structure and internal trim changes, 464 built.

J35

(1958) H35 with a fuel injected Continental IO-470-C engine, optional autopilot and improved instruments, 396 built.

K35

(1959) J35 with fuel load increase, optional fifth seat and increased take-off weight, 436 built.

M35

(1960) K35 with cambered wingtips and minor changes, 400 built.

N35

(1961) M35 with a 260hp Continental IO-470-N engine, increased fuel capacity, increased take-off weight and teardrop rear side windows, 280 built.

035

(1961) Experimental version, an N35 fitted with laminar flow airfoil and redesigned landing gear; only one built.

P35

(1962-1963) N35 with new instrument panel and improved seating, 467 built.

S35

(1964-1965) P35 with a Continental IO-520-B engine, higher take-off weight, longer cabin interior, optional fifth and sixth seat, 667 built.

V35

(1966-1967) S35 with higher take-off weight single-piece windshield, optional turbocharged TSIO-520-D engine (as V35-TC), 873 built.

V35A

(1968-1969) V35 with a streamlined windshield and minor changes, optional turbocharged TSIO-520-D engine (as V35A-TC), 470 built.

V35B

(1970-1982) V35A with minor improvements to systems and trim, optional turbocharged TSIO-520-D engine (as V35B-TC), 873 built.

Model 36 Bonanza (BE36)

One of IFTA's A36 Bonanzas takes off from Mojave Airport

Beechcraft A36 Bonanza modified with the Tradewind Turbine's turboprop conversion

36

(1968-1969) E33A with a ten-inch fuselage stretch, four cabin windows each side, starboard rear double doors and seats for six, one 285hp Continental IO-520-B engine, 184 built.

A36

(1970-2005) Model 36 with improved deluxe interior, a new fuel system, higher take-off weight, from 1984 fitted with a Continental IO-550-BB engine and re-designed instrument panel and controls, 2128 built.

A36TC

(1979-1981) Model 36 with a 3-bladed propeller and a 300hp turbo-charged Continental TSIO-520-UB engine, 280 built.

T36TC

(1979) A36 fitted with T-tail and a 325hp Continental TSIO-520 engine, one-built.

B36TC

(1982-2002) A36TC with longer span wing, increased range, re-designed instrument panel and controls, higher take-off weight, 116 built.

G36

(2006-present) - glass cockpit update of the A36 with the Garmin G1000 system

QU-22

YQU-22A (Model P. A glass cockpit is an Aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays. The Garmin G1000 is an integrated flight instrument system manufactured by Garmin typically composed of two display units one serving as a Primary flight display 1079)

USAF military designation for a prototype intelligence-gathering drone version of the Bonanza 36, six built.

YAU-22A (Model PD. 249)

Prototype low-cost close-support version using Bonanza A36 fuselage and Baron B55 wings, one built.

QU-22B

Production drone model for the USAF operation Pave Eagle, 27 built.

Modifications

Propjet Bonanza (A36)

standard aircraft modified by Tradewind Turbines with an Allison 250-B17F/2 turboprop engine (Original STC by Soloy). The Allison Engine Company was a US Aircraft engine manufacturer which was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1995 to become a subsidiary Rolls-Royce Corporation WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A turboprop engine is a type of aircraft powerplant that uses a Gas turbine engine to drive a Propeller. ^[2]

Turbine Air Bonanza

B36TC modified by West Pacific Air, LLC and Rocket Engineering with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 turboprop engine. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A turboprop engine is a type of aircraft powerplant that uses a Gas turbine engine to drive a Propeller.

Whirlwind System II Turbonormalized Bonanza (36, A36, G36)

standard aircraft modified by Tornado Alley Turbo with a Tornado Alley Turbonormalizing System and approved for a 4000 lbs. MTOW.

Whirlwind TCP Bonanza (A36TC or B36TC)

standard aircraft modified by Tornado Alley Turbo with a TCM IO-550B Engine and Tornado Alley Turbonormalizing system. This airframe is approved for a 4042 lbs. MTOW.

Unlicensed version

Parastu

This is the standard F33 (1970) variant of the Bonanza that Iran has reverse engineered and is manufacturing without a license. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. ^[3][4]

Military operators

• Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Haiti, Iran, Israel, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Spain, Thailand, United States

Notable incidents

• On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Jiles Perry Richardson ("The Big Bopper") died when their Beechcraft B35 Bonanza, registration N3794N, crashed shortly after takeoff, at night and in bad weather. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Côte d'Ivoire (ˌkoʊt divˈwɑː(r ' in English, kot diˈvwaʀ in French) or Ivory Coast, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. Ritchie Valens ( Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13 1941 February 3 1959) was an American singer songwriter and guitarist The Day the Music Died refers to a plane crash occurring just after 100 a
• On February 7, 1981, Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak crashed his turbocharged A36TC Bonanza on takeoff from Santa Cruz Sky Park. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Apple Inc, ( formerly Apple Computer Inc, is an American Multinational corporation with a focus on designing and manufacturing Consumer electronics General information Santa Cruz Sky Park was an Airport located in Scotts Valley California, within Santa Cruz County. NTSB investigation found that he was not endorsed to fly high performance aircraft. ^[5].
• On March 19, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads was killed while flying in a Beechcraft Bonanza with pilot Andrew Aycock and hairdresser Rachel Youngblood. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer Randall William "Randy" Rhoads ( December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American Heavy metal Guitarist
• On April 7, 1982, former Austrian Formula One driver Harald Ertl and other members of his family died in a crash of a Model 36 Bonanza (BE36), due to engine failure, that was flown by his brother in law, Dr. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Harald Ertl ( August 31, 1948 - April 7 1982) was an Austrian Motorsport Journalist and racing driver Jörg Becker-Hohensee.
• On March 31, 1984, Robert J. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Moriarty flew the Beechcraft V-35 Bonanza, N111MS through the arches under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel /tuʀ ɛfɛl/ is an Iron Tower built ^[6][7]
• Former Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves pitcher Jim Hardin died in a crash of his Beech 35-C33A on March 9, 1991. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. James Warren Hardin ( August 6, 1943 – March 9, 1991) was a professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar.
• On March 13, 2006, game show host Peter Tomarken used his Bonanza A36 to pick up a person who needed treatment at the UCLA Medical Center when his plane suddenly crashed into the Santa Monica Bay. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Peter David Tomarken ( December 7, 1942 March 13, 2006) was an American Television personality primarily known as the He and his wife were killed in the crash. ^[8]

Specifications (1953 model D35)

Data from Quest for Performance^[9]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 25 ft 2 in (7. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. 67 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 01 m)
• Height: 7 ft 7 in (2. 31 m)
• Wing area: 178 ft² (16. 5 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,675 lb (760 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,725 lb (1,236 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Continental E-185-11, 205 hp (153 kW)
• * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off In Aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient C_{D0} is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircraft's zero-lift drag Force to its 0192
• Drag area: 3. In Aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient C_{D0} is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircraft's zero-lift drag Force to its 48 ft² (0. 32 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 6. In Aerodynamics, the aspect ratio of a wing is defined as the square of the wing span divided by the wing area 20

Performance

• Maximum speed: 191 mph (166 kn, 306 km/h)
• Stall speed: 63 mph (55 kn, 101 km/h)
• Range: 779 mi (677 NM, 1,247 km)
• Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5. In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such For other uses see Stall. In Aerodynamics, a stall is a sudden reduction in the lift forces generated by an Airfoil The maximal total range is the distance an Aircraft can fly between Takeoff and Landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft or cross-country A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. In Aerodynamics, the rate of climb RoC is the speed at which an Aircraft increases its Altitude. 6 m/s)
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 13. In Aerodynamics, the lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio ("ell-over-dee" in the US "ell-dee" in the UK is the amount of lift generated 8

References

See also

Related development

• Bay Super V Bonanza
• Beechcraft Travel Air
• Beechcraft Baron
• T-34 Mentor
  

Comparable aircraft

• Mooney M20
• Piper Comanche
• Cessna 210
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of utility aircraft
  

External links

• BeechTalk.com - Beechcraft Owners and Pilots Group and Discussion Forum
• American Bonanza Society
• The history of the development of the Bonanza
• History of the V-tail safety issue