Beech Model 35 Bonanza

1945


LIGHTPLANE	Virtual Aircraft Museum / USA / Beech

The Beech Model 35 Bonanza was the founder member of a remarkable family of aircraft, not only for the fact that production of Bonanzas of all types amounts to about 15,000, but also because the V-tail Bonanza extended over 35 years of production.

Flown for the first time on 22 December 1945, the prototype Model 35 Bonanza, distinguished easily by its V-(or butterfly-) tail, was to become another outstanding success in the mould of the Models 17 and 18. Unlike them, it got off the ground rather more quickly for when the company announced that full-scale production was to begin in March 1947, it already had a backlog of around 1,500 orders. It was a moment for the benefits of wartime experience to pay off, for about 1,000 deliveries had been made by the end of that year.

The general configuration of the. Model 35 has remained virtually unchanged throughout the aircraft's history. A cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, including the distinctive tail unit, the Model 35 has an enclosed cabin providing seating for a pilot and three or four passengers. From the outset the Model 35 has had retractable tricycle landing gear, but the original version had only a swivelling nosewheel: a steerable unit was introduced on the Model A35 in 1949. An optional feature throughout the years has been a landing gear safety system of Beech design. Named 'Magic Hand', this ensures that the wheels cannot be retracted accidentally on the ground, or a landing made with the wheels up. As first flown, power was provided by a 138kW Continental E-185-1 flat-six engine, but a variety of standard and optional powerplants have been installed during the long production run. These have included turbocharged units for the V35 TC and the V35B TC.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1182 x 762)

Specification

MODEL	Model V35B
ENGINE	1 x Continental IO-520-BB flat-six piston engine, 213kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	1542 kg	3400 lb
Empty weight	955 kg	2105 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	10.21 m	34 ft 6 in
Length	8.05 m	26 ft 5 in
Height	2.31 m	8 ft 7 in
Wing area	16.81 m²	180.94 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	338 km/h	210 mph
Cruise speed	253 km/h	157 mph
Ceiling	5445 m	17850 ft
Range	1648 km	1024 miles

Comments

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macc, e-mail, 26.12.2010 00:03

This airplane was also known as "The Cadillac of single engine airplanes".

bill, e-mail, 18.12.2010 00:04

Have a bunch of time in the T 34 and the a H and a S bo they are a sweet plane
Flight from Vegas NV to MI and back just add gas and oil with not a single issue
T-34 were all navy fling cub plane out of surpus
Bill

bill, e-mail, 18.12.2010 00:03

Richard D Cook, e-mail, 12.12.2010 04:25

I purchased a model 35, serial number 62 after it had survived a gear up landing. Like the flight of the Phoenix, it was rebuilt with an H model center section, P model instrument panel and dual yoke. It carried the family of 4 all over the country for 21 years. It was a wonderful plane to own and operate and is still in the registry.

Jan Schmidt, e-mail, 23.11.2010 20:23

My husband and I bought a third interest in a B Model Bonanza 'way back in 1955. Powder Blue and White and a dream to fly. Worked our way up to solo ownership of a Cessna 421 .... but that first Bonanza is in my heart!

Alger Moore, 10.11.2010 05:03

Owned 1950 B model for 26 yrs and flew it all over US and Bahamas with mom and boys. Have owned 1968 36 model for last 15 yrs. Different aircraft, but both have excellent flight characteristics. Loved them both.

Michael, e-mail, 14.10.2010 16:31

A great airplane, the Bonanza. I was a little scepticle at first but I got one great check ride and built some hours in it hauling passengers. It still is a great ship.

Dennis Valade, e-mail, 27.09.2010 19:59

I have owned an S-35 for over ten years. The guy I bought it from in Florida had it for twenty years and almost cried when I left with it. I have been flying for over forty years and have logged around 6,000 hours. I have flown almost all the Piper & Cessna models over the years and have found that this airplane far out shines the others in the single engine retract category. I only hope I can pass it on to my grandkids.

Sam McIntyre, e-mail, 18.09.2010 19:11

I like to forget my first flight in a Bonanza. The wind was blowing about 30mph and when I opened the cabin door it flew forward ripping off the so called safety latch and bending the hinges. No body told me to hang on to the door with my left hand. I went on to get my instument rating in a Bonanza, gave flight instruction in one and did some charter flying to Mexico in one. My son that I taught to fly bought a Beech 95.

Phil Goplen, e-mail, 08.09.2010 06:25

After retiring from the USAF I flew many hours in BE35s as air Ambulance planes. A more pleasant flying airplane (single engine) would be very dificult to find. I was sorry to see them go out of production.

Scott Boyd, e-mail, 12.04.2010 07:56

I flew the V-35TC quite a bit at the same time I was flying T-210's and 206's. It wasn't as stable when flying IFR, no autopilot, and I never felt overly comfortable in the cockpit seating. The rudder pedal position, or something, just never felt right.

Other than that it was faster then the 210 but couldn't carry anywhere as much.

Don Duff, e-mail, 14.03.2010 01:03

I have had two bonanzas one j model and one v model and they both were faster than your speed in tour specs. The v model would true at 200 mph at 65% power at 10,000 ft. the j model waqs just a few mph less but had a much lighter pay load. i would appreciat you correcting your figures as they are a long way off.

Steve McGarry, e-mail, 09.03.2010 05:17

I owned a 1976 V tail with some parnters. We had the airplane for 9 years, and prior to that, a Cherokee 180G. The Bonanza was a fabulous airplane. Sadly, we sold it last year and miss it. Good ole N555TX is now residing in southern California with a great new owner. I hope she treats him as well as she did us.

Robert Woltz, e-mail, 08.03.2010 21:10

Olive Ann Beech was determined that this would be the first airplane designed to be flown by a normal woman who could be dressed as if she came from home or office, wearing normal clothing. The cabin was attractive and had no resemblance to a machine. For example, it had a retracting step system suitable for a woman's high heels and a normal doorway for easy entrance. The large, high fidelity radio speaker was directly overhead and the cockpit quiet so music and voices could be clearly heard. The entrance step could easily be made wearing high heels. The appearance of the instrument panel was styled to be smooth and showing no fasteners. No adjustment required extra force. Up to four channels could be preselected.
I helped build and test the first Bonanza. My role was to select and test the radio system. It was the first to have push-button selection of stations for a proposed trip. Also, it had an antenna that was stored lengthwise in the tail of the fuselage and which was wound around spring-loaded pulleys with a drag-funnel at the end. The air-drag on the funnel pulled the antenna fully out at cruising speed and therefore gave the best reception during flight. Therefore, it retracted before landing. It was invisible and never failed. A large speaker was located directly overhead and aircraft noise was kept at a low level so that ordinary radio programs could clearly be heard during flight. The illuminated instrument panel was smooth and continuous with no fasteners in sight. There were many other items that were developed. As soon as the Bonanza was finished, our whole engineering section was laid off.

Tony Love, e-mail, 15.02.2010 01:21

Owned N6049F for 25 years. Have flown many types over the years. Put about 4000 hours on it, with never a problem. Used it IFR in my business, and flew all over the USA, Canada, and the Carribean. Never had such a beautiful ride.

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024

Tony Love

Tim Briggs, e-mail, 14.02.2010 00:53
I own a 1958 J35 Bonanza and fly it extensively for business and pleasure. It is a 260hp version of the Continental IO-470 engine. Having flown many different models of light aircraft, it is easy to see why the Bonanza was such a success. I find the performance and reliability of the machine to be outstanding. The build quality outshines anything else I've ever seen. I don't believe that the handling is quite as nice as many claim - I had a Bellanca Cruisair that was heaven to fly - but overall it is very responsive and easy to land well. I like that despite being over 50 years old, all its components are easily supported and nothing out there is faster on 260hp. Many of the later ones with 285 or 300hp are heavier and not really any faster. You need a Cirrus or Columbia with 310hp to gain any real speed advantage...
reply
JOHN NELSON, e-mail, 07.09.2010 20:25
I(we) have owned 2 different S model bonanzas. The first one went from the USA to Argentina(we were living there) and back. Returning over the green sea(jungle) of Brazil, including a "MEAN" thunderstom over the Amazon tested N7932K severly. But there was never even a sputter. WWII pilots were not allowed over the AMAZON because of these storms. I "think" it was the fuel injection that made the difference.
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Don, e-mail, 23.12.2009 00:12
I own two Bonanzas for now until the P model sells. have owned a total of 7 Beech aircraft. They are the best & have about 3500 hrs in them.
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lawwrence sciortino, e-mail, 02.12.2009 08:05
a couple corrections to the above specs: empty wt. 1985; cruise speed 75% power at 6500' is 203MPH, not 157.
reply
leo rudnicki, e-mail, 17.04.2009 03:53
The aircraft in which the music died.
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