General Aviation

Beech F33a

Manufacturer: BEECH

The Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general‑aviation aircraft first flown in 1945 and introduced to market in 1947. It is a single‑engine, low‑wing, all‑aluminum airplane that originally featured a distinctive V‑tail and retractable tricycle gear. The Bonanza has been produced continuously for more than 79 years, making it the longest‑produced aircraft in history, with over 18,000 units built.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
beech-f33a
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
979
Example Registration
N100LK

Specifications

Wingspan
10.21 m / 33 ft
Length
8.38 m / 27 ft
Height
2.62 m / 8 ft
Cruise Speed
326 km/h / 203 mph
Range
1326 km / 716 nmi
Ceiling
5600 m / 18500 ft
First Flight
1945-12-22
Production Start
1947
Total Built
18546

Aircraft Overview

History

Development began at the end of World War II when Beechcraft designed the Model 35 Bonanza to compete with the Cessna 195. The prototype flew on 22 December 1945 and received its airworthiness certificate on 25 March 1947. Production started the same year and continued in various versions until 2026, when Textron Aviation announced the final Bonanza would be produced after the backlog of orders was filled. The V‑tail Model 35 was produced until 1982, while the conventional‑tail Model 33 Debonair ran until 1995. Production of the stretched Model 36 Bonanza continues today.

Design

The Bonanza is a low‑wing, all‑metal aircraft powered by a horizontally opposed six‑cylinder engine. Early models used a 185 hp Continental E‑185 engine and featured retractable tricycle landing gear, with the nosewheel initially castering. The signature V‑tail combines elevator and rudder functions into ruddervators. Later variants added a conventional tail, larger fuel tanks, and upgraded engines up to 300 hp. The aircraft’s aluminum construction and streamlined shape contributed to its high cruise speed and long range.

Variants

Key single‑engine variants include the original Model 35 Bonanza (V‑tail, 1947‑1982), the Model 33 Debonair (conventional tail, 1960‑1995), and the Model 36 Bonanza (stretched, straight tail, 1968‑present). The Debonair was a lower‑priced version of the Bonanza, while the 36 added a 10‑inch fuselage stretch and seats for six. Twin‑engine derivatives such as the Twin Bonanza, Travel Air, and Baron share some parts but are largely distinct aircraft.

Operations

The Bonanza has been widely used as a business and personal transport for executives and professionals. It has also served as a primary trainer for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and as a short‑haul feeder for airlines such as Central Airlines of Texas. Private owners, air charter companies, and military operators around the world have employed the Bonanza in a variety of roles, from flight training to light cargo and personal travel.

Notable Facts

  • In 1949, a Bonanza named Waikiki Beech set a nonstop record of 5,273 mi from Honolulu to New Jersey in 36 hours.
  • The aircraft was the first light airplane to cross the Pacific Ocean nonstop.
  • The Bonanza’s V‑tail earned the nickname “forked‑tail doctor killer” due to early accidents, but later studies showed pilot error was the main cause.
  • A 1982 study found the Bonanza had a slightly lower accident rate than other single‑engine retractable‑gear aircraft.
  • The 2011 G36 model features a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit and a 300‑hp Continental IO‑550‑B engine.

Variants

  • F33A- 979 registrations - Example N100LK

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources