Beechcraft Bonanza Old Airplane Models

Beechcraft Bonanza has original Bonanza models. The Beechcraft A35 Bonanza was introduced in 1947. Beechcraft built Model 035 Bonanza in 1961. Bonanza has model 33 Bonanza, model 35 Bonanza, and model 36 Bonanza. Model 36 Bonanza has a single engine, or turboprop.

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Jim Goodrich

Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.

What are the old Beechcraft Bonanza Models?

The old Beechcraft Bonanza models are the V-tail 35series Bonanza and the straighttail 33series Bonanza. Variants of the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza include the 35, A35, B35, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, O35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, V35B Bonanza , V35B-TC and the V35TC. The V-tail Bonanza was dropped from production in 1982, but more than 6,000 V-tail models still fly today. Beechcraft Bonanza models are from 1947 and the early Bonanza has a V-tail. The V-tail mixes turning and up-down controls, because the V-tail is a control surface that works as both a rudder and an elevator. The 1947 Bonanza flies at about 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour).

The V-tail Bonanza models have frequent structural failures, like disintegrations during speeding or sudden climbs. The weakness is the tail’s inability to withstand air pressure, so the back part comes off. Because of that, the FAA acknowledged repair needs which Beechcraft admitted. The tail was made stronger and the team checked durability. Airworthiness directive 872003 revision 2 states tail checks and is aimed at bulkheads. The V-tail Bonanza has narrower back weight limit zone than the straight-tail Bonanza, and the tail shakes in turbulence. The straight-tail Bonanza has more weight in the back and is very scarce of crashes because the tail type stops collapse frequency. So, the 33series Bonanza is a cheaper model of the 35series Bonanza. The 35series Bonanza uses less fuel than the 33series Bonanza. The 1974 F33A is desirable, and Model 33 was in production until 1995. Old Bonanza models include these series with V-tail or straighttail, and many still fly.

When was the Beechcraft Bonanza's first flight?

Beechcraft Bonanza's first flight was on 22 December 1945. Test pilot Vern Louis Carstens made the first flight of the Beech Aircraft Corporation's new Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The Bonanza was certified by the CAA in 1947. The Model 36 Bonanza is still in production, making the Bonanza family the longest continuous production run in aviation history. Older models like the Model 35 Bonanza first flew then. The Model 35 and Model 36 are types and versions.

What are the specifications of early Beechcraft Bonanza variants?

The specifications of early Beechcraft Bonanza variants are given in the table below.

The early Beechcraft Bonanza variants, the Model 35, A35, B35, C35, D35, E35, and F35, have a distinctive V-tail. The Model 35 V-tail was mounted at 30 degrees from the horizontal. The C35 increased the V-tail chord by 20 percent and the V-angle to 33 degrees. The Model 35 was once deemed the preeminent single-engine plane.

The Model 35, built in 1947-1948, has a wingspan of 10.00 m (32 ft 9 7/8 in), a length of 7.65 m (25 ft 1 1/4 in), and a height of 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in). Gross weight is 2,550 lb (1,157 kg). Powered by a 165 hp Continental E-165 engine, max cruise speed is 152 kt and Vne is 175 kt. Range is 750 statute miles (1207 kilometers), and fuel usage is about 11.5 to 12 gallons per hour (43.5 to 45.4 liters per hour). 1,500 units were built.

The A35, built in 1949, has a gross weight of 2,650 lb (1,202 kg). The engine is a Continental E-185-1 of 185 HP. Max speed is 175 mph (150 knots), cruise speed 150 mph (130 knots). Vne is 175 kt, Vle 109 kt. Range is 750 nm. Fuel capacity is 39 gallons (147.6 liters), gas usage is around 12 gallons per hour (45.4 liters per hour), and miles per gallon is 15.0 (6.4 kilometers per liter). A total of 701 A35 were produced.

The B35 of 1950 has gross weight 2,650 lb (1,202 kg), max cruise speed 150 kt (278 km/h), Vne 175 kt (324 km/h). Gas usage is 15 to 15.5 miles per gallon (24.14 to 24.94 kilometers per liter). The C35, from late 1950 through 1952, has gross weight 1,225 kg (2,700 lb) and max cruise speed 287 km/h (155 kt). The C35 uses 49.2 liters per hour (13 gallons per hour) and has gas mileage of 23.3 to 24.1 kilometers per liter (14.5 to 15.0 miles per gallon). 719 C35 were manufactured. The D35 and E35 have max cruise speed 156 kt and Vne 175 kt. The E35 offered an optional Continental E-225 engine, boosting max cruise speed to 161 knots. Early Bonanza variants up to the G35 have Vne 175 kt, the H35 increased Vne to 182 kt, and the J35 to 195 kt.

What is the market value of older Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft?

The market value of older Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft is not a universal number. Vref, the aircraft valuation service, suggests a base value of $22,000 for a 1947 model to $133,000 for a 1982 V35B. List prices range from $27,000 for a 1952 with ADS-B to $199,000 for a 1967 with a modern panel. Vintage models from the 1970s and 1980s have a price bracket of $150,000 to $300,000. Aircraft listing sites reveal that prices for Bonanza models from the 1970s, 90s, and 80s tend to sit between $200,000 and $400,000. Aircraft Bluebook shows a 1975 V35B Bonanza to have an average retail of $132,000.

Market value is the present value of time left on the engine and the aircraft's health. Upgrades add value. A new Garmin G500 system upgrade adds $20,000 to $40,000 to market value. Winglets that refine air flow add $10,000 to $20,000. Fuel tanks on the wingtips add $5,000 to $10,000. Putting in a Continental IO-550 engine adds $25,000 to $45,000 to the value. Modified older Bonanzas sell for 30 to 50 percent more than regular models, and owners get half to nearly three-quarters of the money spent on improvements. Engine hours since overhaul have a value reduction schedule: an engine with fewer than 500 hours since rebuild has a premium of 15 to 20 percent over an engine with half-life, engine hours between 500 to 1500 hours since overhaul has a value reduction of one and a half to two percent per 100 hour period, and an engine with 1800 to 2000 flight hours since overhaul has a value deduction of 60 to 80 percent of the overhaul price. The overhaul price for a Bonanza costs from $35,000 to $50,000. Documentation raises the price of older Bonanzas. Lost paper records for a period cut value by five to ten percent. Missing logbooks cut value by fifteen to twenty-five percent, and aircraft with missing logs take 40 to 60 percent longer to sell. An aircraft with an accident record has a value reduction of 15 to 25 percent. Minor blemishes have a value reduction of 5 to 10 percent. The V-tail Bonanza has a reputation for being dangerous, which lowers its valuation compared to the straight-tail Bonanza. The straight-tail Bonanza gets a higher market premium because of safety.

Costly loans and ongoing costs suppress the market value of older Bonanzas. Many lenders restrict loans for piston aircraft at 20 years of age. Some lenders lend planes 40 to 50 years old, but loans on older aircraft have costlier terms, quicker payback, and decreased upfront amounts. Borrowing is limited at a loan-to-value ratio of 70 percent. Lenders need inspections, plane activity records, and yearly checks. Nonoriginal and unrecorded cut the ability to get a loan, which reduces marketability. Insurance cost for new flyers on older Bonanzas is more than $3,000, which deters some buyers and lowers demand. Older Bonanza market value is shaped by regional demand and currency values. International Bonanza prices are not identical. Crossborder consumer costs come with currency prices, and tariffs create cost differences. In markets with lower incomes, local buying power is reduced, so sellers change prices based on market conditions. Yearly expense without money set aside for engine repairs is $13,900 to $15,700 for 100 hours of flying. Buyers cut money to accommodate for recurring bills, money, and deferred maintenance kept for engine backup. Airframes needing engine repair sell at a discount equal to the overhaul price.