Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1949 · light aircraft
The Beechcraft Twin Bonanza was the company's first twin-engine aircraft, stretching the Bonanza concept into a six-seat cabin twin that offered greater payload and engine-out safety. It sold to private, corporate, and military customers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Longer fuselage than the single Bonanza — first Beechcraft twin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four/five-seat piston twin with Beechcraft's tapered wing and conventional tail
- Longer fuselage than the single Bonanza — first Beechcraft twin
- US Army acquired as L-23 Seminole for liaison and utility duties
A conventional low-wing twin with a wider, more capacious fuselage than the single Bonanza; lacks the distinctive V-tail of the single; the twin nacelled engines and tapered wing are characteristic.
Specifications
- The Beechcraft Twin Bonanza has a length of 9.09 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.44 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 354 km/h (220 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2 pilots + up to 4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1949 and entering production in 1951, the Twin Bonanza was bought by the US Army as the L-23 Seminole for utility transport. Civil sales were solid, and the type enjoyed a long production run until 1963 when the more capable Queen Air replaced it.
Variants
Model 50 was the initial production; subsequent models through D50 and E50 brought progressive improvements in engines and systems; the US Army L-23A through L-23F variants reflected each civil update.
Where you'll see it
US Army (L-23/U-8 Seminole), private and corporate operators worldwide; some remain in private use as classic American piston twins.
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- Beechcraft Bonanza (V35)
- Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly
- Aero Ae 50
- Boisavia B.60 Mercurey
- Brochet MB.80
- Douglas Cloudster II
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