Beechcraft Bonanza Buyer's Guide: V-Tail, F33A, A36, B36TC or G36?
For pilots ready for a fast, retractable-gear single, deciding which of the Bonanza's three airframes and eight decades to buy.
"Bonanza" covers three different airplanes: the V-tail Model 35 (1947-1982), the straight-tail Model 33 that ended as the F33A, and the longer six-seat Model 36 that became the A36 and then the G1000-equipped G36. All have retractable gear and Continental six-cylinder engines; none is pressurized, and none has a factory parachute. The buying decision is which airframe, which engine era and how much tail and gear history you're willing to own.
Is a Bonanza the right airplane for you?
| A Bonanza fits if you… | Look elsewhere if you… |
|---|---|
| Fly 300 to 700 nm trips with two to four people and want to beat the airlines door to door | Mostly fly short local hops: a fixed-gear Cessna 182 costs less and forgives more |
| Want a retractable single with a strong owner community and deep parts support | Want the lowest-cost retractable: a Mooney or Comanche costs less to buy |
| Need six seats and a cargo door (A36 or G36) | Want a second engine for night and over-water trips: see the Baron |
| Will get complex and high-performance endorsements and Bonanza transition training | Want a whole-airframe parachute: that's the Cirrus line |
Which Bonanza models and years matter?
| Model | Years | What a buyer should know |
|---|---|---|
| 35, A35, B35 | 1947-1950 | Earliest V-tails with Continental E-series engines. Covered by AD 2002-21-13. Pre-1960 airplanes may need 20% down. |
| C35 through P35 | 1950s to early 1960s | V-tails with E-series and then 470-series engines. Covered by the V-tail AD 94-20-04 family of requirements. |
| S35, V35, V35A, V35B | 1964-1982 | 285-hp IO-520; V35B built 1970-1982. The most common V-tails on the market, with rare turbocharged versions. |
| Model 33 / F33A | 1960s-1994 | Straight-tail Bonanza (originally Debonair); F33A 1970-1994 with the 285-hp IO-520. Four to five seats. |
| 36 / A36 | 1968-2005 | 10-inch longer fuselage, double rear doors, six seats. IO-520 (285 hp) until 1983; IO-550 (300 hp) from 1984. |
| A36TC / B36TC | 1979-2002 | Turbocharged six-seaters with a Continental TSIO-520. Altitude on oxygen, plus turbo and exhaust maintenance. |
| G36 | 2006 on | A36 airframe with Garmin G1000 (later NXi) and a refreshed cabin. Textron plans to end production once current orders are filled. |
Sources: Wikipedia (Beechcraft Bonanza); American Bonanza Society V-tail fact sheet; production end: AOPA, November 21, 2025.
Decision rule: if you'll regularly use more than four seats, the A36 is the answer, and a 1984-or-later A36 gets the 300-hp IO-550. If you fly mostly two to four people and want the most speed per dollar, a well-documented V35B or F33A is the usual pick; choose the F33A if you want to avoid the V-tail's recurring tail items. Buy a G36 for the integrated glass panel and newer airframe, not for performance. The annual budgets differ mainly through hull value and loan size; see V35B vs F33A vs A36 vs G36 cost of ownership.
What does a Bonanza cost to buy and finance?
On Controller.com in September 2026, 1950s and early-1960s V-tails asked about $69,000 to $200,000, and V35/V35A/V35Bs about $89,000 to $350,000, with most V35Bs between $209,000 and $245,000. F33As asked about $214,000 to $499,000. 1970s-1980s A36s asked about $169,000 to $470,000, mostly $260,000 to $375,000; 1993-2005 A36s about $325,000 to $649,000; B36TCs about $299,000 to $520,000; and 2006-2016 G36s about $519,000 to $795,000, with a 2024 G36 at $1,130,000. Treat these as asking prices and verify with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook. For remaining new G36s, contact Textron Aviation.
AOPA's lenders ask for at least 15% down on post-1960 singles and 20% on older aircraft, which may also get shorter terms, and offer 20-year terms on loans of $75,000 or more (AOPA Aviation Finance). As of September 2026, piston loan rates generally start around 7% and run to about 10%. The examples use an illustrative 7.75%.
| Example | Price | Loan | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 V-tail (pre-1960: 20% down; loan under $75,000, so a shorter term) | $75,000 | $60,000 | $720/mo over 10 years |
| 1978 V35B (15% down) | $210,000 | $178,500 | $1,465/mo over 20 years |
| 1980 A36 (15% down) | $300,000 | $255,000 | $2,400/mo over 15 years; $2,093/mo over 20 years |
| 2008 G36 (15% down) | $600,000 | $510,000 | $4,187/mo over 20 years |
| Term | 6.99% APR | 7.75% APR | 9.99% APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years (180 mo) | $2,291/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,739/mo |
| 20 years (240 mo) | $1,975/mo | $2,093/mo | $2,459/mo |
Loan amount $255,000. Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Illustrative, not a quote.
At an assumed 15 gph and the AirNav national 100LL average of $7.24/gal (September 2026), fuel is about $109 an hour. Check the owner's fuel logs rather than the brochure.
Found a Bonanza you like?
Send the model, year and asking price. A financing specialist will come back with rate, term and down-payment options from lenders in our network.
What should you inspect on a used Bonanza?
Add these Bonanza-specific items to the general pre-buy inspection checklist, and use a shop that works on Bonanzas every week.
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| V-tail (Model 35) | Compliance with AD 94-20-04 (C35 through V35B) or AD 2002-21-13 (35 through B35), ruddervator balance within limits, and corrosion on the magnesium ruddervator skins. Any repaint or ruddervator repair needs a documented rebalance. Details and costs: V-tail Bonanza cost of ownership. |
| Control wheel | Many older Bonanzas have a single "throw-over" control wheel. Ask your instructor and insurer whether they'll accept it for your checkout; dual-control conversions exist. |
| Landing gear | Electrically driven gear motor and gearbox, rod ends, uplocks and doors, with a full gear swing on jacks. Ask about gear-up and prop-strike history. |
| Fuel system | Rubber fuel cells in the wings (age, leaks, fuel smell), selector valve operation, and any tip-tank STC paperwork. |
| Engine | Borescope, compressions and oil analysis. Continental's SIL98-9 lists 1,700 or 1,900 hours for the IO-520-BA/BB and IO-550-B, depending on serial number, with a 12-year calendar limit. See SMOH vs TBO. |
| Turbo models (A36TC, B36TC, turbo V-tails) | Turbocharger, wastegate and exhaust condition; oxygen system and bottle test dates. |
| Cockpit layout | Older Beech airplanes place the gear and flap switches in a non-standard arrangement. Know which layout you're buying and train on it. |
| Structure and corrosion | Wing attach fittings, spar, belly and control surfaces. Beech control surfaces are expensive to replace, so corrosion there matters. |
| Avionics | Autopilot type and service history, ADS-B Out, and on a G36 the G1000 software level and NXi status. Price any panel upgrade before you make an offer; see avionics financing. |
Have your mechanic run a full AD search on the airframe, engine and propeller serial numbers, and review Form 337s and damage history. See reading aircraft logbooks.
What does a Bonanza cost to insure?
BWI's June 3, 2026 report on 110 Bonanza renewals found a weighted-average premium change of -19.6% and a median of -3.8%. It said underwriters now weigh pilot qualifications far more than tail configuration, rewarding total time, time in make and model, instrument proficiency and consistent flying (BWI). A pilot new to complex or high-performance airplanes should expect transition-training and dual-time conditions and a higher first-year premium. Lenders require hull coverage naming them as loss payee; see aircraft loan insurance requirements.
First-year ownership notes for a new Bonanza owner
- Get your endorsements and a Bonanza-specific checkout, ideally with an instructor who teaches in Bonanzas, and plan recurrent training every year.
- Join a type club. The American Bonanza Society publishes AD and maintenance guidance for every model.
- Plan the first annual with the shop that did the pre-buy, and on a V-tail, budget for tail items at every inspection.
- Reserve for the engine and gear from month one; the cost pages above show per-hour figures.
- Register the airplane. Registration is valid for seven years and costs $5; the "pink copy" works only within the U.S. until the certificate arrives.
How this guide differs from related guides
This page covers the Bonanza buying decision. Specifications and generated payment examples are on the model pages for the V35B, F33A, A36 and G36. Annual budgets are on the Bonanza comparison, A36, pre-owned G36 and new G36 cost pages. For the next step, see Bonanza to Baron or Bonanza G36 to King Air.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Beechcraft Bonanza cost?
Controller.com asking prices in September 2026 ran about $69,000 to $200,000 for 1950s and early-1960s V-tails, mostly $209,000 to $245,000 for V35Bs, about $214,000 to $499,000 for F33As, $169,000 to $470,000 for 1970s-1980s A36s, $325,000 to $649,000 for 1993-2005 A36s, and $519,000 to $795,000 for 2006-2016 G36s. Verify with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook.
Should I buy a V-tail or a straight-tail Bonanza?
A V-tail usually costs less to buy for similar speed, but it carries tail ADs, ruddervator balance limits and magnesium ruddervator skins that corrode. A straight-tail F33A or A36 avoids those items and handles more conventionally in turbulence. If you buy a V-tail, pay for a tail inspection by a Bonanza specialist and confirm AD 94-20-04 compliance for C35 through V35B airplanes.
What's the difference between the F33A, A36 and G36?
The F33A (1970-1994) is a straight-tail, four-to-five-seat Bonanza with the 285-hp IO-520. The A36 (1970-2005) has a 10-inch longer fuselage, double rear doors and six seats, with the 300-hp IO-550 from 1984. The G36 (2006 on) is the A36 airframe with a Garmin G1000 panel and a refreshed cabin, at roughly twice the price of a late A36.
What loan terms can I get on a Bonanza?
AOPA's lenders ask for at least 15% down on post-1960 singles, 20% on older aircraft, and offer up to 20-year terms on loans of $75,000 or more. A $300,000 1980 A36 with 15% down is a $255,000 loan: about $2,093 a month over 20 years at an illustrative 7.75%, principal and interest only. Rates generally run about 7% to 10%.
Does a V-tail Bonanza cost more to insure?
Not automatically. In a June 2026 report on 110 Bonanza renewals, BWI said underwriters focus far more on pilot qualifications than on tail configuration, and that instrument-rated pilots often get more favorable treatment. The same report found premiums down 19.6% on a weighted-average basis and 3.8% at the median. Time in make and model and recent flying matter most.
Is Beechcraft still building the Bonanza?
Not for much longer. In November 2025 Textron Aviation said it would end production of the Bonanza G36 and Baron G58 once current orders are filled, and that parts and engineering support for the fleet will continue, according to AOPA. More than 18,000 Bonanzas have been delivered since 1945, so the used market is deep.
Do I need special endorsements to fly a Bonanza?
Almost always two. Every Bonanza has retractable gear, flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, so you need a complex endorsement (14 CFR 61.31(e)). Most have engines above 200 hp, which requires a high-performance endorsement (61.31(f)). Insurers typically add Bonanza transition training and a set number of dual hours for pilots new to the type.
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Rates and rules change; see our editorial standards.