This is the heavier, more stable of the Bonanza designs, and its higher elevator forces make it more difficult for ham-handed pilots to overstress the airplane during a high-airspeed pullout.

has been building just one variant of the Bonanza - the straight-tail, 300-horsepower, six-seat model A36. It didn't want the liability exposure, and abruptly ended the V-tail's otherwise-successful 35-year production run. Aftermarket tail-spar mods took care of this problem, but for the Beech Aircraft Co. The signature V-tail design was discarded in 1982 after accident investigations determined that the V-tail wasn't strong enough to handle the high airloads associated with pullouts from high-speed unusual attitudes. In-flight structural failure was another issue. And there have been many such accidents over the years. The same slipperiness and light control forces that give Bonanzas their famed speed and handling characteristics also could lead to high-speed, loss-of-control accidents if a pilot was inattentive or not proficient. This is not to say that the Bonanza has been trouble free. Bigger than competing Mooneys, faster than competing Pipers, with great fit and finish and plush, tasteful interiors, it seems that the Bonanza's designers have simply gotten it right from day one.

Over the years, the Bonanza has grown in size, engine power, and model designations, always preserving its well-earned niche. From its first appearance in 1947 as a smallish, all-metal four-seater with a distinctive, futuristic-looking V-tail, the airplane has been a leader in style, speed, handling qualities, and sales. For many pilots, the venerable Beechcraft Bonanza represents the ultimate piston single.

Carenado a36 bonanza checklist