Unless one needs to haul a big load, the short-cabin, fuel-injected Bonanzas (1958-60, J35, K35 and M35) are a lot of bang for the buck. At their lighter gross weights (2900 for the J35, 2950 for the K35 and M35), the 250-hp IO-470 pulls them along at close to the same speeds as the 285-hp IO-520 does the heavier S35, and does so more economically.
Prices go up considerably for the 1961 N35, the first model built with the extended hat shelf, 80-gallon fuel and lengthened third window, and for the 1962-63 P35, with modernized instrument panel layout (both of these had the 260 hp IO-470-N). CG range is an issue with all Bonanzas, but becomes tougher to deal with in the newer, heavier models with extended baggage areas and large fuel cells in the wing leading edges.
All Bonanzas are delightful to fly, but in my humble, biased opinion, the lighter J35-M35 are especially nice.
-- Pilawt
Doug R said:
I have noticed that there is alot of flavors running around out in the Bonanza world.
With over 10,400 V-tails built between 1947 and 1982 (plus about 3,000 straight-tail 33's and 4,000 - and counting - long-body 36's), there is quite a variety indeed. You might even find a J35 retrofitted with a turbo-normalized IO-550 -- a real movin' machine.
how old is to old with one of these planes regarding engines / prop systems.
Bonanzas built before 1957 (i.e. Model 35 through G35) had Continental's E-series engines. They were good, smooth engines, but I'm told parts are getting harder to come by. The IO-470's and IO-520's in the J35 and newer models are modern engines with full factory support. Thanks to a gear-up by the prior owner in 1998, my K35 has a recent factory reman and a new McCauley two-blade prop. The Beech-built props were pretty good, too, I understand. There is an AD to watch for on Hartzells.
The 1957 H35 was an inbetweener. It had a 240 hp O-470 with a pressure carburetor and automatic mixture control. Some folks like it, some don't, but many H35's have been converted to a more conventional fuel-injected engine. With its significant structural and aerodynamic improvements, Bonanza guru Larry Ball considers the H35 the first of the "modern" Bonanzas.
-- Pilawt