This 1992 Beechcraft F33A Bonanza Is a fast, well-documented ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
Conceived as a budget version of the V-tail Bonanza, the ‘straight-tail’ model eventually won the popularity contest.
![](https://www.flyingmag.com/uploads/2024/01/F33.jpeg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Beechcraft’s F33A Bonanza often finds a sweet spot between the V-tail Model 35 and the 6-seat A36. [Courtesy: Ghazan Haider]
Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.
Beechcraft began selling its Model 33 Debonair in 1960 as a counterattack to Piper’s PA-24 Comanche, which had begun to nibble away at the market share of its flagship, the V-tail Model 35 Bonanza. The V-tail was a beautiful, fast design with a deluxe interior and panel—and a price to match. Piper eventually hit back with its own sleek, modern airframe, the PA-24, which attracted many customers who considered it close enough to a Bonanza at a much lower price. Beechcraft essentially needed an economy version of the Bonanza.
The Debonair’s conventional or “straight” tail set it apart from the high-end V-tail and its bare-bones cabin gave it a Spartan feel. But the airplane was fast, good-looking, and a hit with customers, some of whom had preferred the conventional tail all along. Through the 1960s the model evolved, gaining mode power and better equipment. By the end of the decade, it even received the Bonanza nameplate, which made sense because everyone knew the 33 and 35 models were essentially the same.
This 1992 F33A has 13,295 hours on the airframe, 2,000 hours on its Continental IO-520-BB engine since overhaul, and 138 hours on its McCauley propeller since new. The panel includes a Mid-Continent MD41-528 annunciator, and a full suite of BendixKing avionics including: KNS81Nav/RNAV, KLN94 GPS, I525A HSI, KX155 Nav/Com, KI209 CDI, N63 DME, KR87 ADF, and KI229 RMI, along with an Insight GEM610 engine monitor.
Pilots looking for a solid F33A Bonanza at a price point well below others on the market should consider this 1992 model, which is available for $120,000 on AircraftForSale.
You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: Finding Your Ideal Aircraft: Type Clubs and Wedding Planners
- FLYING Magazine: Beech Bonanza and Debonair Approved for Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot
- FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Earns STC for Three-Blade Bonanza Propeller
- Plane & Pilot: Beechcraft Model 33 Bonanza/Debonair
- AVweb: GAMI: Higher Gross Weights Approved For Bonanzas
![Jonathan Welsh](https://www.flyingmag.com/uploads/2022/01/IMG_20220112_103655835_HDR_2.jpg?auto=webp)
![](https://www.flyingmag.com/uploads/2022/09/Pilot-and-copilot_adobe-stock-rs.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get the latest FLYING stories delivered directly to your inbox