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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2024 15:37:14 GMT 12
What was the reason for the different tail designs on the Bonanza? Some have V-tails, and others have a conventional tail with single fin and horizontal stabilisers.
Does one design have an advantage over the other?
Which came first? And when the design changed did the earlier style stop being built?
I was surprised to just read that Bonanzas are still being produced today, almost 80 years after the first one flew. Over 17,000 of them have been built, which is amazing.
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rural53
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by rural53 on Oct 22, 2024 17:19:42 GMT 12
According to Wikipedia the V-tail (Model 35 Bonanza) was the original design, built 1947 to 1982. The conventional tail version (Model 33 Debonair later renamed Bonanza) was built as a cheaper version, built 1959 to 1973. Originally the 33 was built as a stripped down version of the 35 but most people ordered the options to bring it back to 35 spec, hence the name change from Debonair back to Bonanza. A longer version (Model 36 Bonanza) was built 1968 to present. I've ridden in a V-tail a few times and there is sometimes a slight tail wag due to no having a vertical fin. Some people can feel it and some can't. It is a nice, quick aeroplane to ride in.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2024 17:23:57 GMT 12
Thank you.
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Oct 22, 2024 18:01:28 GMT 12
The main advantage to a v-tail aerodynamically is less drag, given that you have two surfaces rather than three. The fact that it looks distinctive is also not a disadvantage from a marketing perspective, especially for its introduction around the dawn of the jet age in the USA where it looked extremely slick compared to the Cessnas and Pipers of the time. The main downsides are mechanical complexity (the gearing required to get the elevators to also function as rudders) and potentially a bit less structural strength.
You might be interested to know there's an aerobatic version, albeit with the conventional tail and produced in fairly small numbers - one of the rare examples of a four seat aerobatic aeroplane, although I imagine it isn't approved for aerobatics with passengers in the back seats.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2024 18:38:53 GMT 12
Thanks Leo. Now you mention that, there was one doing aerobatics at Oshkosh this year, which shocked me a bit as it was very unexpected. I did not know there is a specific version. Cool!
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Post by noooby on Oct 23, 2024 8:58:33 GMT 12
F-33C. There was one at Hamilton Island in Australia years ago doing joy rides when I was working there.
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