Beechcraft Aircrafts - Built for Adventure

Beechcraft | December 8, 2010

Beechcraft is responsible for manufacturing general aviation and military aircrafts which was founded in 1932. Beechcraft aircrafts since 2006 is a part of Raytheon. What once used an idle Cessna factory for production soon became popular and won 5 straight awards for production efficiency. Walter H Beech and wife Olive Ann Mellor Beech founded the company in Kansas in 1932. The first model to fly from the production line was the model 17 Staggerwing which flew in Nov 1932. on total 250 Straggerwings were built and out of which 270 were produced for United States Army Air Forces. Serving the World War II, Staggerwing was replaced with Bonanza with a distinctive V tail design. Bonanza is one of the best known Beechcraft aircrafts and is still into production since 1947. Bonanza also has world record of the longest production run for an aircraft. It has been more than 60 years since the first Beehcraft Bonanza were manufactured. Beechcraft Bonanza is with a single engine. Beechcraft also manufactures Baron which is a twin engine version of the Bonanza. Beechcraft model 18 which was originally manufactured in 1930’s and was used for business transport and commuter airline, today it is used for cargo transportation.


Olive Ann Beech took over as a CEO of the Beech Aircraft after the death of her husband in 1950. She remained in the position till 1980 when the company was purchased by Raytheon Company.

Reaytheon owned Hawker product lineup that it had acquired in 1993. and soon merged the Hawker lineup to that of Beechcraft forming Hawker Beechcraft.

The current Beechcraft Aircrafts offering include Premier, King Air, Baron and Bonanza.

Beechcraft 33 Bonanza came with a Continental IO-520-BB engine.

Beechcraft 33 Bonanza Technical Specification

Crew : 1 / 2

Passengers : 4

Propulsion : 1 Piston Engine

Engine Model : Continental IO-520-BB

Engine Power : 285 hp

Speed : 183 kts

Service Ceiling : 18.000 ft

Range : 890 NM

Empty Weight : 2.105 lbs

max. Takeoff Weight : 3.400 lbs

Wing Span : 33,5 ft

Wing Area : 181 ft²

Length : 26,4 ft

Height : 7,6 ft

First Flight : First Flight

Production Status : in production

Currently the Beechcraft Bonanza is offered as Bonanza G26.

Beechcraft Bonanza first flew in 1947 and since then it has being the king of the air serving the general aviation industry. The aircraft is still into production and in total more than 17,000 Bonanzas have been built.

After World War II two very new and distinctive aircraft emerged, 35 Bonanza and Cessna 195. Both of the aircrafts made a distinctive approach in the aviation industry both before and after war. The Bonanza was made more like fighter similar to that made during World War II. These Beechcraft aircrafts were easy to manage that came with horizontally opposed 6 cylinder engine and low wing configuration. 35 Bonanza were designed by Ralph Harmon. The 35 Bonanza was fast and easy to control and was with a low wing design when most of the aircrafts were still made out of wood.

Beechcraft A36 Bonanza came with a Continental IQ-550B engine that generated 300 horsepower for take-off.

Beechcraft A36 Bonanza Technical Specification

Engine make/model : Continental IQ-550B

Horsepower@altitude : 300@SL

Horsepower for takeoff : 300

Landing gear type : Tri/Retr

Gross weight (lbs.) : 3650

Landing weight (lbs.) : 3650

Empty weight, std. (lbs.) : 2247

Wingspan : 33 ft. 6 in.

Overall length : 27 ft. 6 in.

Best rate of climb, SL (fpm) : 1210

Best rate of climb, 8000 ft. (fpm) : 800

Service ceiling (ft.) : 18,500

Takeoff ground roll (ft.) : 971

Takeoff over 50-ft. obstacle (ft.) : 1913

Landing ground roll (ft.) : 913

Landing over 50-ft. obstacle (ft.) : 1473

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