Into this burgeoning marketplace Beech thrust the Bonanza. Walter Beech wanted to take advantage of the knowledge amassed during wartime research and, in particular, to build an aluminum airplane that would be a clean break from the models available before the war and new designs expected to emerge after.
During the war, unprecedented research and development in aviation took place, and the state of the art had progressed tremendously since the late 1930s. In postwar America, most aviation companies were staffing up for an expected boom of pilots coming home and demanding new airplanes. To understand the Bonanza, it helps to know something about the period during which it was designed. Single engine feathering is part of the training, but can be effectively simulated using throttle, rather than actually feathering the prop for real, as this could be potentially catastrophic close to ground.From the original Model 35 (which first flew on December 22, 1945) to the versions rolling off Beech's - now Raytheon's - assembly lines today, the Bonanza has cut a swath through general aviation like a timeshare salesman through a clutch of snowbirds. Like many other light twins, she is under-powered for our local conditions, so it is recommended to practice potentially dangerous flight manoeuvres with plenty of height. Although she is a forgiving trainer, it is important to take the right precautions with regards to safety, especially when doing training exercises.
Single engine operations are quite a leg strain initially, but if you get through the procedures quickly, she will behave. Once in the cruise, however, she flies beautifully, and with a very pleasing cruise speed of 140mph! Controls at cruise power are surprisingly sensitive, and despite being a very stable and forgiving aircraft, I initially managed to give my poor instructor some pilot-induced nausea due to my over-reactive handling. Take-off seems to take quite a while, and requires a sense of patience – she will take off when ready…nudge…nudge. On the ground, taxiing is initially quite a co-ordination challenge between rudders, power and toe-brakes, but once you have the technique it gives you quite a sense of achievement. Nowadays, more commonly used as a trainer (mostly in the US), one must take heed that it was not designed for high density altitudes, especially up on the South African Highveld! Admittedly, I was concerned about its lack of performance, especially when low to the ground, but it has proved to be a very effective learning tool in thoroughly understanding (not merely assuming) the characteristics of your aircraft, and not ‘pushing the envelope’. The cabin was obviously a selling point of this aircraft – roomy, with comfortable seats – every benefit of travelling by air!īy modern standards, this light twin is under-powered, but one must remember this is a 1958 model, and, at the time is was seen as out-kicking the competition, in terms of price and performance.
Smoking was seen as a desired social activity, and aircraft features reflected this, with multiple, easily accessible ashtrays, as well as a convenient nook to hang your coat so that it wouldn’t get crumpled – thoughtful indeed. People dressed up to go and fly, it was assumed the pilot was male, and pictures depict the potential passenger as female. Reading the POH feels a lot like reading a story – it reads lyrically, and takes you back to a golden era in aviation. It first took to the skies in 1956, and it did prove to be quite a success with over 700 examples made. The name ‘Travel Air’ seems very unimaginative and as obvious as travel-by-air (duh!), but in fact, the name comes from Travel Air Manufacturing Company, which was the company which preceded Beechcraft. as around the same time, they were also aspiring to use the name ‘Badger’ on one of their aircraft.
Bonanza bitcraft series#
It was originally supposed to be called the ‘Badger’ (going along with the series of names beginning with the letter ‘B’), however, the American military intervened. The Travel Air is a descendant of the Bonanza, and preceded the more common, and popular, Baron. So what makes the Travel Air so worthy of writing about, even though I am sometimes convinced she was designed to hate her handler? Well, this is apparently the last remaining Beechcraft Travel Air in South Africa, so it is indeed a privilege, and I am hoping that one day, this rating on my licence will look as impressive as a Harvard or Spitfire… Right! I have taken to calling it the ‘Bitchcraft’ Travel Air, because as I am learning to fly her, it all seems rather challenging! Admittedly, I think this is a “mans” plane, simply because, if you are a lightweight like me, single-engine simulations require ALOT of single leg input on the rudder – be warned!
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