This 1947 Beechcraft 35 Bonanza Is a Capable, Antique ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1947 Beechcraft 35 Bonanza.

When people hear that an airplane dates to 1947, they might envision a lightweight, high-wing, rag-and-tube classic. But in this case we are talking about something a bit more modern.

When the Beechcraft Bonanza made its debut that year it looked more like a sleek air racer or military fighter prototype than a member of the GA fleet. Ramps at small airports at the time were full of biplanes, high-wing trainers, and machines from aviation’s golden age or earlier.

When the V-tail Bonanza taxied past it must have looked like a shark among the mackerel.

There was nothing else quite like the Bonanza in the late 1940s—at least nothing in regular production that was widely available. The fast, efficient all-metal machine caused a sensation that arguably has lasted up to the present.

While the Bonanza initially was aimed at wealthy buyers, today you can park a nice V-tail in your hangar without breaking the budget. While these aircraft might be antiques, they still provide modern cross-country performance for pilots seeking a solid traveling machine. 

This 1947 Bonanza has 4,717 hours on the airframe, 763 hours since major overhaul, 16 hours since a top overhaul of its Continental E-225-8 engine, and 81 hours on its two-blade Hartzell propeller since overhaul.

Upgrades and recent maintenance include Cleveland wheels and brakes, Jasco alternator, LED landing and navigation lights, Peterson auto fuel STC, 12-gallon tip tanks, new engine hoses and mounts, Sunrise oil filter STC, Jourdan Flanagan spar reinforcement STC, and Alpha Aviation three-point restraint system. The aircraft’s landing gear motor and gearbox were overhauled in 2016 and its flap motor was overhauled in 2015. A new exhaust system was installed in 2015.

The panel includes a Garmin GNS 340 audio panel with four-place intercom, GTX 327 transponder, GDL 82 with ADS-B Out, Bendix King KLX 135A GPS/Comm, dual AV-30-C instruments, fuel flow gauge, engine monitor with data recorder, electric tachometer, and new airspeed indicator.

Pilots who appreciate the clean design, impressive performance, and historical significance of the early V-tail Bonanzas should consider this first-year example, which is available for $99,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you're interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.