Plane Facts: Beech Bonanzas

Cool and interesting facts about Beech Bonanzas

Plane & Pilot

Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 09:18 AM ET

Verified

Beech Bonanza Model 35

Key Takeaways:

The Beechcraft Bonanza Model 35, first flown in 1945, was a pioneering aircraft with advanced features like all-metal construction, retractable gear, and an opposed engine, setting it decades ahead of contemporary designs.
With over 17,000 units built and more than 70 years in continuous production across Models 33, 35, and 36, the Bonanza has undergone significant evolution, including increases in horsepower, seating capacity, and transitioning from a "throw-over" yoke and V-tail to conventional designs.
The aircraft holds multiple long-distance flight records but also gained notoriety as the "fork-tailed doctor killer" following the fatal 1959 crash involving Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, which was attributed to pilot error.
The Bonanza line diversified to include conventional-tailed Debonairs and six-seat models, and spawned related twin-engine aircraft like the Travel Air and Baron, demonstrating its lasting impact and adaptability in aviation.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Are you an aviation enthusiast or pilot? Sign up for our newsletter, full of tips, reviews and much more!

Model 35 first flight: December 22, 1945

First delivery: 1947

Years before comparable Cessna (retractable gear, opposed engine, variable speed/adjustable prop, no-strut wing) appeared: 20

Construction: All-metal*, low-wing, monoplane

*Note on construction: First few dozen Bonanzas had fabric-covered flaps and ailerons

Covering for flight control surfaces after that: Magnesium alloy

Cruise speed of original Bonanza: 152 ktas

Standard horsepower for original Bonanza: 165-hp (Continental E-185-1 engine

Horsepower of today’s G-36 Bonanza: 310 (Continental IO-550G)

1949 Bonanza non-stop world record: William Odom, Bonanza A35, Hawaii to Teterboro, New Jersey, 4,957 miles, 36 hours, two minutes

Throwback control: “Throw-over” yoke. One set of transferable controls for both front seaters

First Beech with throw-over yoke: Model 17 Staggerwing, produced 1933-1949

Popular Bonanza modification: Dual yoke conversion

Last Bonanza with throw-over yoke: 1983

Model 35 naming convention: Just Model 35 until 1948, then letter+”35″ starting with “A” and ending with “S”

Letters skipped: I, L, Q, R

Last year-lettered Bonanza: S-Model (1966)

Nickname for Model 35 Bonanzas: Fork-tailed doctor (or lawyer) killer

Noteworthy accident: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, along with pilot Roger Peterson, killed, Clear Lake, Iowa, February 3, 1959

Cause of accident: Pilot error (took off VFR into a snow storm)

Age of pilot: 21

First six-seat Bonanza: S-35 (optional fifth and sixth seats)

First standard six-seater: A36, 1968

Number of Model 36 Bonanzas produced: More than 2,500

Twin Bonanza relation to Bonanza: Not related

Bonanza offshoot twins: Travel Air and Baron

1958 long distance record: Pat Boling, Manila, Philippines, to Pendleton, Oregon, 7,090 miles, 45 hours, 43 minutes—in a Beechcraft Bonanza

Turboprop modifications of Model 36: 3

Number of different turboprops therein: 3

Bonanzas built since its introduction: 17,000+

Years in production: 70

Number of basic “Bonanza” models in 70 years: 3 (Models 33, 35, 36)

Models developed specifically for military operations: 4, not counting the Beech T-34 Mentor or Fuji offshoots

Number of companies that have owned the Beechcraft brand: 5—Beech Aircraft, Raytheon, Hawker Beech (Goldman Sachs), Beechcraft Corp., Textron Aviation

Model 36 naming convention: Simply 36 until 1970, then all A-36s until 2005

After 2005: G36 (indicated Garmin G1000-avionics-equippped)

G-35 Bonanza: 1956 model; Garmin founders Gary Burrell and Min Kao were 19 and 7 years old, respectively

First year with a conventional, non-V tail: 1959, Debonair

Years “Debonairs” produced: 35

Last year for a V-tail Bonanza: 1982

Weirdest Bonanza: Model 40—Twin with two Franklin engines on nose driving a single prop (never produced)

Parastu: Iranian reverse-engineered F-33 Bonanza (unlicensed)

Bonanzas certified for aerobatics: E33C and F33C