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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
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