Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
Model 50 Twin Bonanza | |
---|---|
Operated by the U-8 Seminole
| |
Role | Utility aircraft |
Manufacturer | Beech Aircraft Corporation |
First flight | November 15, 1949 |
Introduction | 1951 |
Status | Active |
Primary user | Private operators |
Produced | 1951–1961 |
Number built | 975 (includes 195 L-23) |
Variants | L-23/U-8 Seminole
|
Developed into | Beechcraft Queen Air |
The Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza is a small twin-engined aircraft designed by Beechcraft as an executive transport for the business market. It was developed to fill a gap in Beechcraft's product line between the single-engined Model 35 Bonanza and the larger Model 18.[1] The Twin Bonanza is dissimilar to the Bonanza, being much larger and heavier and using more powerful engines, while in its earliest form having only half the passenger capacity of the Model 18.
Development
The Twin Bonanza was first flown on November 15, 1949 after rapid development, begun only in April of that year.
Despite its name, the Twin Bonanza is a substantially larger and heavier aircraft that is mostly dissimilar to the single-engined Bonanza; the only major shared parts are the front fuselage sides and windows, and on early models, the main cabin door. The Twin Bonanza fuselage is 12 in (30 cm) wider than that of the Bonanza.[3]
The United States Army adopted the Twin Bonanza as the
The Beechcraft Model 65 Queen Air and Model 90 King Air are both direct descendants of the Model 50 Twin Bonanza. All three aircraft share the same basic wing design, as well as landing gear, flaps, instrument panels, fuel cells, and more. The Queen Air added a larger cabin to the design, while the later King Air added turbine power and pressurization. Twin Bonanza production ended in 1963[6] while the King Air was under development.
Design
The Twin Bonanza is an all-metal
In addition to its seating configuration, the Twin Bonanza has several other unusual design features. The main landing gear wheels retract only partially into the engine nacelles, leaving the tires exposed to assist in the event of a
The Twin Bonanza was briefly offered with "Junior JATO" rocket motors which mounted to the tops of the engine nacelles and were nominally intended to help the aircraft stay aloft during in-flight emergencies or forced landings. However, it is unclear whether this feature was ever installed on a production aircraft or used in any instance other than test flights.[5]
Operational history
The Twin Bonanza had trouble competing with the similarly capable but substantially lighter Cessna 310 and Piper PA-23, so Beechcraft used the basic single-engined Bonanza fuselage and many other Bonanza parts to create the Twin Bonanza's effective replacements: the Travel Air and the closely related Baron.[8] The Twin Bonanza has been plagued by a reputation for slow cruise speed, poor fuel economy and high engine overhaul costs relative to other six to eight-seat light piston twins; this has historically kept resale values low, but many owners praise its reliability, good outwards visibility, stable flying qualities and generous interior space, particularly when the three-wide seats are not fully occupied.[3]
The Twin Bonanza is popularly known as the "Twin Bo" or the "T-Bone".[3]
In January 2012, the Australian
Variants
- Model 50
- Initial production version powered by two Lycoming GO-435-C2 engines, 13 built (six for the US Army, remainder civilian versions, with the first two production numbers for factory evaluation). As of 2010, only one Model 50 is still registered and flying (serial number H-7). As of June 2016, Serial Number H-7 is owned by W. Hulsey Smith through his holding company Archangel Technologies, LLC, as part of the Archangel Collection.
- Model B50
- Upgraded Model 50 with increased takeoff weight, extra cabin windows and improved cabin heating, 139 built (40 for the US Army).
- Model C50
- Superseded the B50; fitted with 275 hp (205 kW) Lycoming GO-480-F1A6 engines, 155 built (one to United States Air Force).
- Model D50
- Superseded the C50; fitted with 295 hp (220 kW) Lycoming GO-480-G2C6 engines, 154 built (six to US Army).
- Model D50A
- Upgraded D50 fitted with GO-480-G2D6 engines, 44 built.
- Model D50B
- Upgraded D50A with new passenger steps and improved baggage area, 38 built.
- Model D50C
- Upgraded D50B with starboard airstair entry door, three rows of seats, improved air conditioning, larger baggage area, 64 built.
- Model D50E
- Upgraded D50C with extra portside window, squared-off rear starboard window, pointed nose and 295 hp (220 kW) Lycoming GO-480-G2F6 engines, 47 built.
- Model E50
- Supercharged version of the D50; with increased takeoff weight and 340 hp (250 kW) supercharged GSO-480-B1B6 engines, 181 built (mostly for the US Army).
- Model F50
- Supercharged version of the D50A with GSO-480-B1B6 engines, 26 built including one converted to G50 standard.
- Model G50
- Supercharged version of the D50B with 340 hp (250 kW) IGSO-480-A1A6 engines, increased fuel capacity and increased takeoff weight, one conversion from F50 plus 23 built.
- Model H50
- Supercharged version of the D50C with increased takeoff weight and IGSO-480-A1A6 engines, 30 built.
- Model J50
- Supercharged version of the D50E with 340 hp (250 kW) IGSO-480-A1B6 engines and increased takeoff weight, 27 built.
- Model K50
- Unbuilt variant. Serial numbers KH-1 through KH-38 were allocated for this variant.[12]
- Excalibur 800
- A modification designed originally by Swearingen Aircraft and taken over by the Excalibur Aviation Company which re-engines the Twin Bonanza with two 400 HP (298 kW) Avco Lycoming IO-720-A1A flat-eight engines in a new cowling and revised exhaust system.[13]Other optional improvements were also available.
- L-23 Seminole
- Military version
Operators
Military operators
- Chile
- Chilean Air Force (5 x C50, 4 x D50)[7]
- Colombia
- Colombian Air Force (1 x D50)[7]
- Jordan
- Royal Jordanian Air Force (1 x F50)[7]
- Morocco
- Royal Moroccan Air Force[14]
- Switzerland
- Swiss Air Force (3 x E50)[7]
- Uruguay
- Uruguayan Air Force
Accidents and incidents
The Beechcraft Twin Bonanza has been involved in the following notable accidents and incidents:
- On 24 July 1966, American professional golfer ditching attempt in a lake near their intended destination, Lansing Municipal Airport.[15]
Specifications (D50)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57[16]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 5 passengers
- Length: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
- Wingspan: 45 ft 3 in (13.79 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
- Wing area: 277 sq ft (25.7 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 7.51:1
- Empty weight: 3,981 lb (1,806 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,300 lb (2,858 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 180 US gal (150 imp gal; 680 L)
- Powerplant: 2 × flat-six, 295 hp (220 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 214 mph (344 km/h, 186 kn) at 2,500 ft (760 m)
- Cruise speed: 203 mph (327 km/h, 176 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m) (70% power)
- Range: 1,650 mi (2,660 km, 1,430 nmi) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) and 160 mph (140 kn; 260 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,450 ft/min (7.4 m/s)
- Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 410 yd (1,230 ft; 370 m)
- Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 458 yd (1,374 ft; 419 m)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aero Commander 500
- Cessna 310
- Cessna 401
- Piper PA-23
- Piper PA-31 Navajo
- Piper Aerostar
References
- ^ ISBN 0-911139-11-7.
- ^ Beechcraft Heritage Museum Twin Bonanza page Archived May 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved December 26, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Bedell, Peter A. (September 5, 1999). "Beech Twin Bonanza: A Legend Roars On". www.aopa.org. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Beechcraft". Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. July 14, 2006. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f Caldwell, Kris (December 2022). "Beech D50C Twin Bonanza". EAA Sport Aviation. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Experimental Aircraft Association. pp. 34–36. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Twin Bonanza Model data Archived November 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine retrieved December 26, 2007.
- ^ ISSN 1742-996X.
- ^ Bedell, Peter A. (October 5, 2002). "Beech Travel Air: Baron Lite". www.aopa.org. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Niles, Russ (January 15, 2012). "Australia Grounds Older Bonanzas". AVweb. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ AAP (January 16, 2012). "CASA issues directive on light planes". Herald Sun. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ Niles, Russ (January 24, 2012). "No FAA Bonanza Cable AD". AVweb. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ISBN 0-9652727-1-0.
- ^ Trammel 1966, p. 50
- ^ Air International November 1985, p. 229.
- ^ "Tony Lema and 3 Die in Air Crash". The New York Times. New York City. United Press International. July 25, 1966.
- ^ Bridgman 1956, p. 231.
- Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1956.
- "The Royal Moroccan Air Force...A Seasoned Air Arm". ISSN 0306-5634.
- Trammel, Archie (October 1966). "The Conversion Game". Flying. Vol. 79, no. 4. pp. 47–50.
Further reading
- Aviation Media, Inc. Wonderful World of Flying. New York: Aviation Media, Inc, 1992. OCLC 704064237
- Beech Aircraft Corporstion. Beechcraft Bonanza. Wichita, Kan. : Beech Aircraft Corp., 1947. OCLC 797985508
- Beech Aircraft Corporation. The Story of Beechcraft. Wichita, Kan., 1969. OCLC 6164869
- Beech Aircraft Corporation. The World of Beechcraft. Wichita, Kan. : Beech Aircraft, 1973. OCLC 55965444
- Christy, Joe. Beechcraft Guide: Bonanza, Debonair, Musketeer. New York : Modern Aircraft Series, 1962. OCLC 1544220
- McDaniel, William Herbert. The History of Beech. Wichita, Kan. : McCormick-Armstrong Co. Pub. Division, 1982. OCLC 9093762
- Pelletier, Alain J. Beech Aircraft and Their Predecessors. Annapolis, MD. : Naval Institute Press, 1995. OCLC 33167975
- Phillips, Edward H. Beechcraft, Pursuit of Perfection: A History of Beechcraft Airplanes. Eagan, Minn. : Flying Books, 1992. OCLC 27046154
- Ward, Richard I. Beechcraft Twin Bonanza, Craft of the Masters: The Story of the Beech Civilian Model 50 & Military L-23/U8. Destin, FL. : Aviation Heritage, 1996. OCLC 36105983
- Wixey, Kenneth E. Beechcraft. Stroud: Tempus, 1999. OCLC 45308272
External links
Media related to Beechcraft Twin Bonanza at Wikimedia Commons