# Beechcraft Bonanza
The **Beechcraft Bonanza** is a four-place, single-engine, all-metal light aircraft with retractable landing gear that Beech Aircraft Corporation introduced in 1947 and that remained in continuous production longer than almost any other aircraft design.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) It first flew with a distinctive V-shaped "butterfly" tail, was later offered with a conventional tail, and became one of general aviation's recognized success stories of the post-World War II era.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) In late 2025 Textron Aviation announced that it would end production of the Bonanza G36 once current orders were fulfilled.[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First flight / introduction | 1947, as the Model 35 with a V-tail and retractable landing gear[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) |
| Configuration | Four-place, single-engine, all-metal construction, retractable landing gear[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) |
| Production total | 26,168 Bonanza-family airplanes built as of December 8, 2025, including 17,172 Bonanzas[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf) |
| Type certificates | A-777 covers Models 35 through G35; 3A15 covers H35 through V35B[3](https://www.vintagebonanza.com/TCDS.htm) |
| Record flight | William P. Odom flew nonstop from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Teterboro, New Jersey, March 7–8, 1949, in the fourth Bonanza built[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) |
| End of production | Textron Aviation announced the end of Bonanza G36 and Baron G58 production once all current orders are fulfilled[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf) |
## Design and early history
The Model 35 Bonanza appeared in 1947 as a four-place aircraft aimed at the sophisticated or executive pilot, with all-metal construction and retractable landing gear at a time when most light aircraft had fixed gear and fabric covering.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) Its most recognizable feature was the butterfly, or V-tail, which combined the functions of the conventional horizontal and vertical stabilizers in two angled surfaces; a conventional-tail model was offered as well.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000)
The certification of the Model 35 predated the "modern" FAA aircraft design requirements generally established in 1949; the certification basis of the 35/33/36 series is Part 3 of the Civil Air Regulations.[4](https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/small_airplane/accidents/N3794N) • [5](https://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/aircraft/type-acceptance-reports/Beech_Bonanza.pdf) The type certificate was later held by Raytheon Aircraft Company, with Beech Aircraft Company and BEECH as previous holders.[6](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/aircraft/airworthiness-directives/bonanza/ad-list-v35a-v35a-tc.pdf)
Early Bonanzas were powered by Continental engines; the type certificate data sheets list the E-185 series at 205 hp, the E-225-8 at 225 hp, the O-470-G at 240 hp, the IO-470-N at 260 hp, the IO-520-BB at 285 hp, and the IO-550-B at 300 hp across the family's development.[3](https://www.vintagebonanza.com/TCDS.htm)
## Record and goodwill flights
**The Waikiki Beech.** On March 7–8, 1949, William P. Odom set a light-plane, nonstop distance record flying from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Teterboro, New Jersey, in the aircraft known as the Waikiki Beech, the fourth Bonanza built.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000)
**The Friendship Flame.** Congressman Peter F. Mack flew the same airplane, renamed Friendship Flame, on a goodwill world flight from October 7, 1951, to January 27, 1952.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) The aircraft, with markings from both flights on its left and right sides, is preserved in the [National Air and Space Museum](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-air-and-space-museum) collection.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000)
## Variants and production
Beech developed the Bonanza through a long series of lettered Model 35 variants, from the original 35 through G35 under type certificate A-777, and H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, and V35B under type certificate 3A15.[3](https://www.vintagebonanza.com/TCDS.htm) The Model V35 Bonanza was approved on October 22, 1965.[5](https://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/aircraft/type-acceptance-reports/Beech_Bonanza.pdf) The conventional-tail derivative was marketed as the Debonair (Model 33), and the Model 36 carried the Bonanza name with a conventional tail; the Bonanza line also served as the basis for later Beech aircraft, including the twin-engine Baron.[1](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000) • [2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf)
By December 8, 2025, Beech had produced Bonanza-family airplanes: 17,172 Bonanzas (models 35, 36, and Bonanza-designated 33s), 1,297 Debonairs (Debonair-designated 33s), 6,978 Barons (models 55, 56, and 58), and 720 Travel Airs.[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf) The final production model was the Bonanza G36.[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf)
## V-tail and safety
The V-tail attracted sustained regulatory and industry attention. Airworthiness Directives on V-tail Bonanzas have included actions described as intended to prevent structural failure of the V-tail, which could result in loss of control of the aircraft.[7](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/migrated/pdf/vtailfactshtc35-v35b.pdf) The American Bonanza Society initiated an investigation into whether the V-tail structure met its design intent, and a Department of Transportation report presents the results of an extensive study of the Beech Aircraft V-tail.[8](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/migrated/pdf/vtailtaskforcereport.pdf)
The fleet has also been studied for other accident patterns. A [National Transportation Safety Board](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-transportation-safety-board) safety study examined design-induced landing gear retraction accidents in the [Beech Baron](https://www.edgepedia.org/beechcraft-baron), Bonanza, and other light aircraft, addressing gear that retracts unintentionally on the ground.[9](https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SR8001.aspx)
One of the type's best-known accidents occurred early in its service life: at approximately 0100 on February 3, 1959, a chartered Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza, N3794N, crashed about five miles northwest of the Mason City Municipal Airport in Mason City, Iowa, during a flight in which the aircraft's tail light was visible to a witness at the control tower.[4](https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/small_airplane/accidents/N3794N) The FAA's lessons-learned account of that crash connects it to broader work on aeronautical decision making, including Advisory Circular 60-22, published in 1991, which discusses risk and stress management tools for pilots.[4](https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/small_airplane/accidents/N3794N)
## End of production
The Bonanza's production run, which began in 1947 and continued under Textron Aviation into the 2020s, ended by announcement: as part of Textron Aviation's product investment plan, the company stated it will end production of the Beechcraft Baron G58 and Beechcraft Bonanza G36 models once all current orders are fulfilled.[2](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf) The large existing fleet remains supported by owner organizations such as the American Bonanza Society, which provides pilot training, mechanic education, and safety-focused programs for [Beechcraft](https://www.edgepedia.org/beechcraft) owners and operators.[10](https://www.bonanza.org/)
## References
1. [Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, National Air and Space Museum](https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/beechcraft-35-bonanza/nasm_A19500080000)
2. [Textron Aviation Announces End of Bonanza, Baron Production, American Bonanza Society Magazine, January 2026](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/magazine/2026/january-2026/january-2026.pdf)
3. [Type Certificate Data Sheets, Vintage Bonanza](https://www.vintagebonanza.com/TCDS.htm)
4. [Beechcraft Bonanza 35, FAA Lessons Learned, N3794N](https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/small_airplane/accidents/N3794N)
5. [Type Acceptance Report, Beech Bonanza, Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand](https://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/aircraft/type-acceptance-reports/Beech_Bonanza.pdf)
6. [Airframe ADs: Model V35A/V35A-TC Bonanza, American Bonanza Society](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/aircraft/airworthiness-directives/bonanza/ad-list-v35a-v35a-tc.pdf)
7. [V-Tail Fact Sheet, C35 through V35B, American Bonanza Society](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/migrated/pdf/vtailfactshtc35-v35b.pdf)
8. [V-Tail Task Force Report, U.S. Department of Transportation / ABS Air Safety Foundation](https://www.bonanza.org/globalassets/migrated/pdf/vtailtaskforcereport.pdf)
9. [Design-Induced Landing Gear Retraction Accidents in Beech Baron, Bonanza, and Other Light Aircraft, NTSB](https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SR8001.aspx)
10. [American Bonanza Society](https://www.bonanza.org/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Transport and spaceflight › Aviation › Aircraft › Light and general aviation: certified aircraft, gliders, ultralights, homebuilts › Light aviation overview*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license