The Beechcraft Bonanza V35 is one of the great classics of the world of aviation. The V35, produced from 1966 to 1967, hails from one of the most distinctive lines of airplanes in history, the Bonanza family. First flown on December 22, 1945, the Bonanza is still being manufactured, making it the longest continuously produced aircraft in history. The design’s longevity is a testament to its capability and performance, and the V35 variant shines brightly as one of the most salient members of this great lineage.
The Bonanza marked a great evolutionary leap in civil aircraft when it was introduced in 1947. Unlike its high-wing, wood-and-fabric, taildragging predecessors, the Bonanza was an all-aluminum, low-wing design that featured retractable tricycle landing gear. Its most distinguishing characteristic was its empennage. Instead of the traditional tail composed of a horizontal stabilizer and a vertical stabilizer, the Bonanza sported a V-tail, using “ruddervators” to control pitch and yaw. The design was both aesthetically mesmerizing and aerodynamically energetic. Easy to fly, easy to maintain, the Bonanza opened the skies for a host of people in the post World War II era.
In the decades since its introduction, the Bonanza has seen a number of improvements. While Bonanza pilots often have favorite iterations of the model, one seems to stand above the others among those who know the line: The V35, recognizable due to its one-piece windshield and trapezoidal rear windows. The Bonanza V35 measures 26 feet, 5 inches nose-to-tail, features a low main wing with a span of 33 feet, 6 inches, and has retractable tricycle landing gear.
The V35 is powered by a 6-cylinder Continental IO-520B piston engine that delivers 285 horsepower and drives a McCauley 3-blade propeller. The aircraft cruises at 203 miles per hour, has a range of 900 miles, and a service ceiling of 17,500 feet above sea level.
Although this V35 is decades old, it continues to wow aviators with its performance, ruggedness, forgivingness, and of course, its visual charm. It is equally at home on the most modern of airports or while operating out of a dirt strip in Baja California. With this Microsoft Flight Simulator version, pilots can experience this classic anywhere on the globe.
The Bonanza V35 comes with ten liveries including an Xbox, an Aviator’s Club, and eight others from which to choose. Try it out today! It is available in the Microsoft Flight Simulator in-sim marketplace for USD $14.99. Stay tuned for more “Local Legends” aircraft coming soon. The sky is calling!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
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