Beechcraft Model 50

Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza
Twin Bonanza in the Technik-Museum Speyer , until 1989 A-711 of the Swiss Air Force
Type:	Multipurpose aircraft
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Beech Aircraft Corporation
First flight:	November 15, 1949
Production time:	1952 to 1961
Number of pieces:	975

The Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza (or Beech 50 Twin Bonanza) is a twin-engine transport and business aircraft from the American manufacturer Beechcraft . The twin-engine Travel Air and the single-engine Bonanza served as models .

history

The 1945 Bonanza is one of the most successful civil aircraft in the world. Beechcraft decided to also bring a twin-engine variant onto the market. In fact, the Twin Bonanza is more similar to Travel Air and the later Baron .

The first flight of the Model 50 took place on November 15, 1949, the type certification took place on May 25, 1951. Then the transport version L-23 was built for the US Army . The variant subsequently offered for business travel was the first aircraft in its class on the market. By the end of production in 1961, 975 units had been built, a smaller number of them for the military. The US Army used the model until 1992.

The Twin Bonanza was the direct predecessor of the Queen Air and the King Air . All three planes have almost identical wings, chassis and other components. The Queen Air has a larger cabin , the King Air got more powerful engines.

The first of six Beechcraft L-23E (later U-8E, USAF / Army serial number 56-4039) of the US armed forces

Technical design

The supporting structure consisted of a cantilevered wing to which the motor nacelles were also attached. A NACA 23014.1 was used as the profile at the wing root and a NACA 23012 at the wing tip. The aspect ratio was 7.51 with a wing depth of 1.99 m. The angle of incidence at the wing root was 5.8 °, at the tip 1 °. The V position was 7 °. The wings were with a two-piece wing box made of metal and carrying the NACA - slotted flaps and ailerons. The tanks with 2 × 166 and 2 × 87 liter capacities were also located in the areas. The tail unit was made of aluminum and was conventionally arranged. The elevator and rudder were covered with magnesium sheet. The hull was in semi-monocoque construction made in metal with countersunk rivets. The main landing gear was retracted forwards into the engine nacelle, with the wheels partially remaining in the air flow. The nose and main landing gear were operated electrically. Single disc brakes with hydraulic actuation were used. The nose wheel was steerable. The cabin offered space for 5-6 people and two luggage compartments. The cabin was heated, ventilated, and soundproofed.

Versions

The stated quantities were taken from the most precise and most precisely documented production list to date, which was published by Air-Britain in 2016 .

Civil aircraft

A total of 780 civil aircraft were produced.

Model 50

Original version with two Lycoming GO-435-C2 engines, 11 copies

Model B50

higher takeoff weight, additional windows and improved heating, 99 copies

Model C50

B50 with Lycoming GO-480-F1A6 engines, 155 copies

Model D50

C50 with Lycoming GO-480-G2C6 engines, 146 copies

Model D50A

D50 with GO-480-G2D6 engines, 44 copies

Model D50B

D50A with improved exit and luggage compartment, 38 copies

Model D50C

D50B with new doors, three seats per row, improved air conditioning and a larger luggage area, 64 copies

Model D50E

D50C with additional windows, new bow and Lycoming GO-480-G2F6 engines, 47 copies

Model E50

D50 with higher takeoff weight and GSO-480-B1B6 engines, 70 copies

Model F50

D50A with GSO-480-B1B6 engines, 25 copies

Model G50

D50B with IGSO-480-A1A6 engines, larger tanks and higher take-off weight, 24 copies

Model H50

D50C with higher takeoff weight and IGSO-480-A1A6 engines, 30 copies

Model J50

D50E with IGSO-480-A1B6 engines and increased take-off weight, 27 copies

Military aircraft

A total of 195 military aircraft were produced.

L-23A Seminole

55 Model 50 of the United States Army

L-23B Seminole

40 Model B50 for US Army

L-23D Seminole

100 Model E50 of the US Army

YL-23 Seminole

4 US Army Model D50B reconnaissance aircraft (counted as 50)

RL-23D Seminole

6 L-23D with additional radar (converted L-23D)

L-23E Seminole

6 Model D50, renamed U-8E in 1962 (counted as D50)

XL-23C Seminole

1 US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft (counted as C50)

U-8D Seminole

former L-23D

RU-8D Seminole

former RL-23D

U-8E Seminole

former L-23E

U-8G Seminole

different versions, converted to GO-480-CSC6 engines and with cabins for six people

Military users

•  Chile (5 × C50, 4 × D50)
•  Jordan (1 × F50)
•  Colombia (1 × D50)
•  Pakistan
•  Switzerland (3 × E50)
•  United States

Technical data (Model E50)

Parameter	Data
span	13.78 m
length	9.61 m
height	3.51 m
Wing area	25.7 m²
Empty weight	2,270 kg
Takeoff weight	3,311 kg
crew	1-2
Passengers	5
Service ceiling	9,144 m
Range	1,600 km
Engines	2 × Lycoming GSO-480 -B1B6 with 253 kW each

Others

Twin Bonanza Jojo by Jacques Brel

The Belgian chansonnier Jacques Brel owned a Twin Bonanza, model D50, with which he flew from island to island in the South Pacific . His grave is on the island of Hiva Oa , where his plane, after it was restored, is exhibited together with photos and other documents in a hangar built in Atuona in 2003 .

See also

• List of aircraft types

literature

• Alain J. Pelletier: Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors , Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-863-1 , pp. 105-110
• Edward H. Phillips: Beechcraft - Pursuit of Perfection, A History of Beechcraft Airplanes . Flying Books, 1992, ISBN 0-911139-11-7 , pp. 46-48

Web links

Commons : Beechcraft Twin Bonanza  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• www.quax-flieger.de : A Twin Bonanza in the Association for the Promotion of historic aircraft

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Pelletier, 1995, p. 105
2. ^ "Beechcraft Twin Bonanza" Flight International, December 15, 1949 (English), accessed on August 14, 2017.
3. ↑ Air-Britain Aviation World (English), June 2016, p. 63.
4. ↑ Air-Britain Aviation World (English), June 2016, p. 64.
5. ↑ Air-Britain Aviation World (English), June 2016, p. 65.
6. ↑ Air-Britain Aviation World (English), June 2016, p. 66.