Debonair -- the poor man's Bonanza??

[weilke]

Exactly backwards actually. While there have been a few pre 1966 V-Tails and Debs reported to have a spar web crack, most of the cracks ha...

exactly the opposite. The short body jobs almost never need the doubler.

F33As past serial number CE-1192 (~1987/88 model year) are NOT affected by the spar AD. Beech finally made the structural changes required to account for the heavier aircraft. Yes, they are heavier than the earlier aircraft, but they also have a better autopilot, zinc-chromate as standard, more sound insulation and a better interior than the old models.

In my opinion, if you dont need the payload of an old model and you dont need the room of an A36, a '87-'94 F33A with a IO550 conversion and updated avionics is probably one of the best personal aicraft there is. Very few were made in those years and the prices paid reflect the value.

 

[LDJones]

520 or 550?

The 36 gives up 5-7 knots to a 35 in exchange for That Awesome Cabin.

I could probably get down to 11.7 or so, but it gets a little rough-feeling for my tastes.

I think it still has the 520 in it.

 

[SCCutler]

Do you have GAMIJectors? You ought to be able to get to 12-ish LOP with a 520, and I'd expect around 156-159 knots in an A36.

 

[LDJones]

Do you have GAMIJectors? You ought to be able to get to 12-ish LOP with a 520, and I'd expect around 156-159 knots in an A36.

It has GAMIs but is turbo normalized. We run it at 30" pretty much from takeoff until approach, at which point she comes back to 20". Below about 14.5 gph she starts to complain.

 

[Pilawt]

the "poor" description really only applied the first couple years as beech tried to compete with comanche 180's on price. After that they were all gussied up the same.

1960: 35-33 Debonair, $19,995; M35 Bonanza, $25,300

1966: 35-C33 Debonair (225 hp), $26,425; 35-C33A Debonair (285 hp), $29,875; V35 Bonanza, $31,425

1972: F33A Bonanza, $41,600; V35B Bonanza, $41,600

 

[weilke]

1972: F33A Bonanza, $41,600; V35B Bonanza, $41,600

And you even got an extra control surface at the same price

 

[Pilawt]

And you even got an extra control surface at the same price

And nineteen pounds heavier.

 

[weilke]

And nineteen pounds heavier.

Well, on the upside, the tail doesn't fall off .