The Model 36 Bonanza is a longer-bodied, straight-tail variant of the original design, introduced in 1968. Still built today, it is the biggest single-engine Bonanza, with six seats and high performance. The A36 was developed by lengthening the fuselage of the Model 33 and using the same durable wing, landing gear and Continental engine. With a longer cabin and wide double doors, the Bonanza A36 offers greater utility and convenience without sacrificing performance and economy.
Beech added a turbocharged version of its Bonanza A36 in mid-1979, the A36TC, and later replaced it with the B36TC. However, the final year of production for turbocharged Bonanzas was 2001. Of all the Bonanza models, only the normally aspirated Bonanza A36 remains. Beginning in 2005, the six-seat Beech came to market with an all-glass panel, the Garmin G1000 system, and was redesignated the G36. The G36 Bonanza is a single-engine low-wing piston aircraft with a glass cockpit and provisions for six passengers.
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Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What is the Beechcraft Bonanza 36?
The Beechcraft Bonanza 36 is a high performance light aircraft, a piston single-engine low-wing. The Beechcraft Bonanza first flew on December 22, 1945, and was introduced in 1947. Manufactured by Beechcraft from 1947 to present, the Bonanza remains in service. It was developed into the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, and the number built is 18,552 (at end of 2025).
Beechcraft Bonanza 36 has a plane code BE36. Still built today is the Model 36 Bonanza, a longer-bodied, straight-tail variant of the original design, introduced in 1968. It is a stretched, more robust version of BEECH 33 Debonair; the Model 36 features a big, roomy rear seating area for four in addition to the pilot and right-seat occupant, and aft cabin doors with a conventional tail.
Production continued by RAYTHEON. Since the earliest 36-series Bonanza entered the market in 1968, and is still in limited production today as the G36, Textron Aviation announced in November 2025 that the Bonanza was ceasing production once the final backlog of orders was filled. Continuing in production until the end of production in December 2026 - 79 years - it is the longest continually produced aircraft in the world.
Turbocharged since 1979, over 600 turbocharged BEECH 36TC were built by Beechcraft. There are some Bonanzas on the market with turboprop conversions. The now-defunct Tradewind Turbines used a repurposed Allison 250 from the Bell JetRanger on the A36. The current Soloy A36 STC puts a 450 shp Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 engine and a stretched snout on the airplane, reducing takeoff roll by 40 percent and cutting landing distance nearly in half.
More than 3700 BEECH A36 were built. The A-36 Bonanza is a piston-engine powerhouse that can carry six passengers over 1,931 kilometers (1,200 miles) and has a maximum cruise speed of over 322 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour). The Bonanza G36 is a single-engine low-wing piston aircraft with one Continental IO-550-B engine, one Hartzell three blade constant speed propeller, and a Garmin G1000 NXi system. It is a six-seater with a price point just over $800,000, competitive with the four-place Cirrus SR22 and the Cessna TTx. Optional seating arrangements include all forward facing seats, removal of fifth and sixth seats or removal of third, fourth, fifth and sixth seats without special tools, and some room aft of the third row of seats was created with the 1979 model.
What is the performance of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36?
The performance of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 is given in the table below.
| Aspect | Max |
|---|---|
| Cruise | 176 kts |
| Economy | 137 kts |
| Climb | 1,230 fpm |
| Ceiling | 18,500 ft (5638.8 m) |
| Range | 716 nm |
| Ferry | 930 nm |
| Takeoff | 962 ft (293.2 m) |
| Stall | 60 mph (96.56 km/h) |
| Initial | 1,030 fpm |
The Beechcraft Bonanza 36 has a top speed of 205 knots. Its maximum cruise speed is 176 knots (203 mph) true airspeed at 6,000 ft (1,829 m) altitude. At the ocean's surface, the cruise speed is 174 to 176 knots true airspeed. High-speed cruise at 8,000 ft (2,438 m) is 174 knots (200 mph). Normal cruise at 10,000 ft (3,048 m) is 163 knots (302 km/h). The best cruise speed is 181 KIAS. The maximum structural cruising speed (VNO) is 167 KIAS. Economy cruise speed is 137 knots.
The stall speed is 59 kcas, or 68 mph. In a clean configuration, V S1 is 68 KIAS. The never exceed speed, VNE, is 205 KIAS. Maneuvering speed, or VA, is 141 KIAS (162 mph) at 3,605 lb (1,635 kg). Flap limit speeds are VFE 154 KIAS for approach and 124 KIAS for full down. Landing gear limit speed, VLE and VLO, is 154 KIAS.
The initial climb rate at sea level is 1,230 fpm. The Bonanza 36 goes up at 1,200 to 1,400 feet (366 to 427 meters) each minute. The service ceiling is 18,500 ft (5,639 m). The maximum altitude is about 16,000 ft (4,877 m) to 18,500 ft (5,639 m). The A36/G36 climb performance gets worse above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) up because it does not keep sea level power above that altitude. The thinner air at higher altitude cuts drag, and the best height for efficiency is about two miles up.
The landing distance over a 50-ft (15.2 m) obstacle is 1,450 ft (442 m) to 1,700 ft (518 m), depending on weight. The landing ground roll is 920 to 950 ft (280 to 290 m). The takeoff distance over a 50-ft (15.2 m) obstacle is 1,913 ft (583.1 m) to 2,180 ft (664.5 m), and the ground roll is 962 ft (293.2 m). The rotation speed is 73 KIAS with flaps up, and 67 KIAS with flaps approach. Vx is 84 KIAS, and Vy is 100 KIAS.
The Bonanza 36 has a glide speed of 110 knots. Its glide efficiency is 10.2 to 1, which gives a range of 3.22 kilometers (2 miles) per 304.8 meters (1,000 vertical feet). Due to this efficiency, the maximum ferry range is 920 NM, and the best range is 1,127 NM. The normal range with a 45-min reserve is about 435 to 460 miles (700 to 740 kilometers).
For the G36 model, the best cruise is 181 KIAS, and the fuel burn is 17.0 GPH. The cruise speed at 75% power, best economy, is 176 KTAS. The A36/G36 has a fuel use of 14 to 15 gallons (53 to 57 liters) each hour at three-quarters engine output. The B36TC keeps sea level boost above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters), so its climb performance is maintained at altitude, which is why the B36TC’s performance is better than the A36/G36 above that height. A turbonormalized A36/G36 keeps sea level boost to 18 to 20 thousand feet up, and it is faster and thriftier than the B36TC.
What are the specifications of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36?
The specifications of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 are given in the table below.
| Specification | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Height | 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in) |
| Span | 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m) |
| Length | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) |
| Cabin volume | 100 cu ft |
| Baggage | 37 cu ft |
| Passengers | 3 |
| Max weight | 3,650 lb (1,656 kg) |
| Landing weight | 3,650 lb (1,656 kg) |
| Empty weight | 2,247 lb (1,019 kg) |
| Fuel | 74 gal (280.12 L) |
| Payload | 1,405 lb (637.3 kg) |
| Range | 660 nm |
| Ceiling | 18,500 ft (5,638.8 m) |
| Takeoff | 2,167 ft (660.5 m) |
| Landing | 2,417 ft (736.7 m) |
| Climb | 1,015 fpm |
| Max speed | 174 kts |
| Cruise | 169 kts |
| Economy | 137 kts |
| Engine | IO-550-B Continental |
| Cost | $258.46 per hout |
The Beechcraft Bonanza 36’s takeoff distance ground roll is 962 ft (293.2 m), and takeoff distance over a 50-ft obstacle is 1,913 ft (583.1 m). Landing distance ground roll is 920 ft (280.4 m), and landing distance over a 50-ft obstacle is 1,450 ft (442.0 m). Glide ratio is 10:1, 2 statute miles (3.2 km) per roughly 305 meters (1,000.7 ft) altitude loss. Fuel burn at normal cruise is 16.5 gallons per hour (62.5 liters per hour). At three-quarter normal flying speed, fuel use is about 12.2 gallons (46.2 liters) per hour, and at economy cruise, it is 9.5 gallons (36.0 liters) per hour.
Is the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 easy to fly?
Yes, the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 is thought of as relatively easy to fly for its class. The plane is easy to land, because it combines visibility, smooth handling, a low wing for smoothing out the flare, and the right amount of wing loading. At extreme forward CG loadings (common when flying solo), carrying some power into the flare helps make smooth landings easier. For crosswind landings, angled landing needs flying with the plane flat and nose offset by steering to stay on path. Turning the plane straight during flare needs steering with your feet and wing stick movement. Touchdown happens on upwind wheels first. Crosswind above 10 miles per hour (16.09 kilometers per hour) raises risk of loss of steering and damage.
Though the Bonanza 36 stalls with a very strong nose down motion, recovery needs a 25 degree forward tilt down nose adjustment, pitch down before adding power, and initiation at least 3,000 feet (914 meters) AGL. Recovery is longer than a standard trainer, and the airplane is heavier and faster than common trainers. In low speed flight, the pilot uses low throttle, small angle of flaps, and holds gear up; the Bonanza 36 is gentle but needs to be balanced. Tight turns require finesse because the pilot handles more weight and a faster stall speed.
A certificate is a prerequisite to fly the Bonanza 36 because its engine exceeds 200 horsepower and it has collapsible wheels. A special training certificate is mandatory, beginners need ten hours of training, and transition classes take 3 to 5 days. The American Bonanza Society has a learning program of 25 lessons covering Beechcraft systems. Simcom by CAE provides practice with a flight machine. For a pilot with less than 200 hours of flying time and no special license to fly in bad weather, yearly cost goes from $3000 to $5000, and insurers mandate 30 hours of instruction.
Is the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 pressurized?
No, the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 is not pressurized. In the late Seventies, Beech engineers experimented with a pressurized Bonanza. A standard A36 was modified with a T-tail and a 325 horsepower TSIO-520. The engine size and weight required a 12-inch cowl extension. The design was never put into production. That is why all Bonanza 36 models fly as unpressurized propeller planes.
Flying an unpressurized plane above 3,048 meters (10,000 feet) stops work inside the plane. Crews need assistance after half an hour between 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) and 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). All occupants must have oxygen above 15,000 feet (4,572 meters). Rules from the US government require oxygen above 14,000 feet MSL (4,267 meters) for all flight time, and oxygen above 15,000 feet MSL (4,572 meters) for all occupants. An unpressurized ceiling is between 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and a little over three and a half miles (5.6 kilometers) up. The Bonanza G36 has a highest altitude of 17,500 feet (5,334 meters) at 3,805 pounds (1,726 kilograms), and a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters).
The Bonanza 36 has an onboard oxygen setup. The system includes an oxygen tank, an oxygen stop switch, and an air pressure meter. The tank size is 115 gallons. It has a cannula and uses constant flow. The backup air tank provides about a quarter of an hour of breathing air. Government rules require oxygen for ten minutes above FL250.
How does the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 compare to the Beechcraft Baron?
The Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is a high-end single-engine piston, simpler and usually less costly to operate than the Baron. However, the Baron brings a much greater number of benefits. The Baron’s capacity is half a dozen, while the Bonanza is more than overloaded with tankful and 4 adults. Because of that, the Bonanza seats 3 people. The Baron holds 5 people for about 1600 kilometers (994 miles), and four people on board over 600 sea miles (1111 kilometers). With full tanks, the Bonanza has a payload of around 689 pounds (313 kilograms), but the Baron 58 has a payload with a full tank of 300 pounds (136 kilograms). However, the Baron has an extra fuel weight allowance of 50 pounds (22.68 kilograms) over the Bonanza, and overall payload is 1600 lb (725.75 kg). In a mission without intermediate stops, the Baron can travel the entire route, while a Bonanza would have to land halfway to supply fuel.
Due to its twin-engine propeller system, the Baron can fly in conditions that the Bonanza cannot handle. The expanded capabilities of the Baron greatly reduce turbulence; on a hot, humid day, the air often smooths out at about 13,000 ft (3,962 m), and a Baron 58 works at these altitudes. In a Bonanza, you suffer from turbulence at low altitudes. The Baron is quieter, which makes the trip feel smoother.
What is the price range of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 series?
The Beechcraft Bonanza 36 series has a price range from $150,000 to over $1,500,000. The 30-year low price is $150,000 for a 1968 model. The 30-year high price is $1,245,000, and a premium customized Bonanza G36 is $1,500,000. Vintage Models from the 1970s-1980s are priced at $150,000-$300,000. Mid-Range from the 1990s-2000s are $300,000-$450,000. Recent Models from 2010-2015 are $450,000-$700,000, and Latest Models from 2016+ are $700,000-$925,000.
A new base model G36 Bonanza from the factory is $1,100,000, and with a few options it is $1,150,000. New G36 models exceed $925,000, and fully equipped models exceed $1,000,000. Used examples cost $400,000-$650,000. The Bonanza A36’s price range is $199,000 to $534,285. A B36TC from 1990 has a price of $315,000. The price depends on age, engine time, condition, and avionics.
