Photograph:
Beech V35 Bonanza VH-DEM (c/n D-8305) at Redcliffe, QLD (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Four/six-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 213 kw (285 hp) Continental IO-520-B six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.2 m (33 ft 5½ in)
- Length: 8.04 m (26 ft 4½ in)
- Height: 2 m (6 ft 6½ in)
- Wing area: 16.8 m² (181 sq ft)
- Max speed: 341 km/h (212 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 330 km/h (205 mph)
- Cruising speed at 65% power: 322 km/h (200 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,578 m (18,300 ft)
- Max range: 1,843 km (1,145 miles)
- Empty weight: 841 kg (1,855 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,497 kg (3,300 lb)
History:
Flown for the first time on 22 December 1945, production of the Beech 35 Bonanza, in progressively revised variants, continued for some 42 years, this being one of the longest periods of production of any aircraft.
Deliveries of the first production model, the 35, began in 1947, and this model was replaced in 1949 by the A35. Some minor refinements were made to the new model, but it retained the 138 kw (185 hp) Continental E-185-1 engine. The B35 model in 1950 was only slightly modified but, in 1951, the C35 was introduced with a 153 kw (205 hp) Continental E-185-11 engine. The D35 and E35 models only had slight improvements.
In 1955 a further increase in power was provided in the Model F35 by the installation of the 168 kw (225 hp) Continental E-225-8 engine. The Model G35, released in 1956, was essentially similar. Further increases in power were made in 1957 with the 179 kw (240 hp) Continental O-470-G engine in the Model H35, and in 1958 the fuel-injected 186 kw (250 hp) IO-470-C engine in the J35.
New models continued to appear from time to time. The K35 in 1959 had increased seating to five; the M35 in 1960 had re-designed square wingtips; the N35 in 1961 had the 194 kw (260 hp) Continental IO-470-H engine; the P35 was fitted with the 194 kw (260 hp) Continental IO-470-N engine and had a re-designed interior; and the S35 in 1964 introduced an optional six-seat interior, extra windows, and a 213 kw (285 hp) Continental IO-520-B engine.
The V35 in 1965 introduced a new windscreen and a re-designed interior. At the same time the V35TC model appeared, differing from the V35 by having a turbocharged 213 kw (285 hp) ESIO-520-D engine to give a maximum speed of 386 km/h (240 mph) at sea level, and a maximum cruising speed of 361 km/h (224 mph) at 6,401 m (21,000 ft).
Still further development continued. Eventually the Debonair series of aircraft produced in parallel with the Bonanza was discontinued and only the Bonanza line was manufactured, but without the distinguishing feature of the ‘V’ or ‘butterfly’ tail. This new Bonanza, the Model 36, was introduced in June 1968, and at this time the Models E33 and E33A of the Debonair were renamed the E33 and E33A Bonanza. Later in that year aerobatic Models E33B and E33C were added to the range. Subsequent development led to the Model A36.
In 1985 production of the ‘V’ tail Bonanza ceased after 38 years of unbroken production, the total number built being 15,535. Some 60 odd examples of the Model 35 series have appeared on the Australian register, and two on the New Zealand register.