Beechcraft Travel Air
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Model 95 Travel Air | |
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1959 Model 95 at AirVenture 2008, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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Role | Light twin aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Beechcraft |
First flight | August 6, 1956 [1] |
Introduction | 1958 |
Status | In service |
Produced | 1958–1968 |
Number built | 720 |
Developed from | Beechcraft Bonanza |
Variants | Beechcraft Baron |
The Beechcraft Travel Air was a twin-engine development of the Beechcraft Bonanza. It was designed to fill the gap between the single engine Model 35 Bonanza and the much larger Model 50 Twin Bonanza, and ultimately served as the basis for its replacement, the Baron.[2]
Design and development
Designed as a competitor to the
Although developed and initially marketed as the Badger, a 1956 letter from the United States Air Force notified Beechcraft that the name had been previously chosen as a reporting name for the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 bomber; therefore, Beechcraft elected to reuse the Travel Air name, which came from the predecessor company to Beechcraft, the Travel Air Manufacturing Company.[7] Beechcraft set in initial pricing of the Travel Air at $49,500; $10,450 below Cessna's 310 price, yet still $13,510 higher than Piper's Apache pricing.[7]
Variants
During its ten-year model run, between 1958 and 1968, the Travel Air saw four distinct variants emerge. All use the
Model 95
The initial model was built for the 1958 and 1959 model years; the 1959 model had a fifth 'jumpseat' added. A total production of the 95 for 1958 and 1959 were 173 and 128, respectively.[2][9]
Model B95/B95A
Changes in the B95 version included a 19-inch (480 mm) cabin stretch to increase rear cabin area and the horizontal stabilizer and elevators were enlarged for better pitch control. A curved vertical stabilizer dorsal fairing is the most noticeable change. It also included a fifth seat, wider chord flaps, and an increased gross weight of 100 pounds. The 1961 Model B95A featured fuel injected
Model D95A
In 1963 the Travel Air featured a larger rear window that is common with the Model A55/B55 Barons. The nose cone was lengthened for improved baggage space. Interior features such as the instrument panel and heaters were redesigned. There were a total of 174 D95s built between 1963 and 1967.[2][12]
Model E95
The E95 featured a one piece, 'speed-slope' windshield and a more pointed spinner design. The interior design was fully re-done. A total of 14 Model E95s were built in 1968; with pricing of $53,500.[13] The production drop off was due to the more costly but faster and powerful Model 55 Baron (developed from the Model 95, and initially designated Model 95-55).[2]
Specifications (D95A)
Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66 [14][15]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 4 passengers
- Length: 25 ft 11 in (7.90 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 10 in (11.53 m)
- Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
- Wing area: 199.2 sq ft (18.51 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 7.16:1
- Empty weight: 2,555 lb (1,159 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,200 lb (1,905 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 112 US gal (93 imp gal; 420 L)
- Powerplant: 2 × flat-four, 180 hp (130 kW) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell Type 8447-12 constant-speed propellers, 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 kn (210 mph, 340 km/h) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 169 kn (195 mph, 314 km/h) at 11,000 ft (3,400 m) (econ. cruise (65% power))
- Stall speed: 61 kn (70 mph, 110 km/h) (flaps 28 degrees, gear down, zero thrust)
- Never exceed speed: 210 kn (240 mph, 390 km/h)
- Range: 884 nmi (1,017 mi, 1,637 km) (50% power)
- Service ceiling: 18,100 ft (5,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.4 m/s)
- Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15 m): 1,280 ft (390 m)
- Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 1,590 ft (485 m)
See also
- Bay Super V Bonanza
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Piper Apache
- Cessna 310
References
- Notes
- ^ Taylor 1965, p.182.
- ^ a b c d Phillips, Edward H., : Beechcraft - Staggerwing to Starship, page 62–63
- ^ "Beech Badger - Light Twin". Flying. New York, New York: Ziff-Davis. October 1956. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.viii.
- ^ Jacobshagen, Norman (October 1957). "FLYING Check Pilot Report on the Beechcraft Travel Air". Flying. New York, New York: Ziff-Davis. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.2.
- ^ a b Ball 1994, p.x.
- ^ "Aircraft type designators" (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.13.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.17, 21, 25.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.21, 25.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.29, 45.
- ^ Ball 1994, p.48.
- ^ Taylor 1965, pp. 182–183.
- ^ Ball 1994, pp. 30–31.
- Bibliography
- Ball, Larry A: From Travel Air to Baron...How Beech Created a Classic, Ball Publications, 1994. ISBN 0-9641514-0-5
- ISBN 0-911139-06-0.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Samson Low, Marston, 1965.