The Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza was designed as an executive transport for the business market and a utility transport for the U.S. Army. Superficially, it resembles the Beechcraft Travel Air, a twin-engine variant of the Twin Bonanza's smaller namesake, the Bonanza. However, the Twin Bonanza was about 50% larger, heaver and more powerful than the Travel Air.

Development

The single_engine Beechcraft Bonanza is one of the most successful civil aircraft, in production since 1945. It stands to reason that a twin-engine variant would follow. However, the Twin Bonanza in not a variant of the Bonanza. That distinction goes to the Travel Air and the Baron. In fact, if there ever was a true Twin Bonanza (V-tail and all) it was a twin-engine conversion made by Bay Aviation - the Super "V" Bonanza. The Beechcraft Twin Bonanza is half-again the size of the single-engine Bonanza.

In 1952 the Twin Bonanza was produced as a utility transport for the U.S. Army. It was also the first twin-engine aircraft in its class to be offered to the business market. The U.S. Army adopted the Twin Bonanza as the L-23 and it became the largest fixed-wing aircraft in Army operation.

Specifications (E50)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one or two pilots
• Capacity: up to five passengers
• Length: 9.61 m (31 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 13.78 m (45 ft 3 in)
• Height: 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 25.7 m² (277 ft²)
• Empty: 2,272 kg (5,010 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 2,175 kg (4,796 lb)
• Powerplant: 2x Lycoming GSO-480-B1B6, 236 kW (316 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 366 km/h (229 mph)
• Range: 1,600 km (1,000 miles)
• Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,606 ft)
• Rate of climb: 492 m/min (1,614 ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft: Aero Commander

Designation sequence (Beechcraft): 36 - 38 - 45 - 50 - 55 - 56 - 58

Designation sequence (US military, pre-1962): L-19 - L-20 - L-21 - L-23 - L-24 - L-25 - L-26

Designation sequence (US military, post-1962): U-5 - U-6 - U-7 - U-8 - U-9 - U-10 - U-11