This is a statesman aircraft.. horsepower to spare, speed, agility, and ease of operating efficiency. It's a well balanced design, and begs to be flown. Nicely done again Mark.
My father, a 5000+ hour USAF pilot, would only rent Bonanzas for family trips. He passed years ago but I recall him teaching me to use fingertips when he'd throw the yoke over and let me feel the plane when I was 10.
I can't agree. I spent two years, two months, too long at Minot, ND. Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason. Sub zero temperatures and snow every month except August. You have to plug in your car to keep the engine from freezing! - Don the Camera Guy.
Mark, I can’t think of a video that you have done that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. In fact I think your format for your videos is consistent and informative,, truly i feel my favorite aviation information source. Not boring, not conceited, not condescending.. just a regular guy with a pretty cool accent, with loads of talent and information well communicated to us regular guys who like airplanes. Thank you
During its first few years, the Debonair had a 225 hp engine. I flew that model (in a flying club) for several years. Certainly not a "hot" performer, but it did just fine on that engine.
years ago when i was actively flying i had a chance in a club i was in at oak intl airport north field, we had a debonair and it was a great plane and was glad to get checked out too fly it by a club instructor. it is truly the best of the bonanza series aircraft ever built as well as i had a chance to work on it. a great airplane.
Nice video. The 550 with the Scimitar prop is a great mod. Quieter cruise and better climb. The issue with manufacturing Ruddervator skins has more to do with Textron’s desire to be free of liability for anything associated with 50+ year old planes than anything else. They did just complete a production run of I believe 20 sets of skins. All but a few were bought by a single shop in Oklahoma. It’s a misnomer that the wag comes from the v-tail. It’s really a byproduct of the short-bodied nature of the fuselage. If you fly that Deb on a bumpy day, you will certainly feel the wag - especially in the rear seats. The v-tail plane actually has more vertical surface area and rudder authority than a traditional tail. All that said, a modern autopilot with a yaw damper in a straight or v tail solves the issue. Like the Mooney, the Debonair and especially the V-Tails are iconic. As you pointed out though, the Deb and Bonanza might not be as efficient but they sure are comfortable!
I almost bought a Debonair. But the guy was never around so I never got to fly it. Then I sat in a Cardinal RG and I said "I don’t care if it's slower". I still wonder if a Debonair is in my future someday but after getting rear ended at a red light my back isn't getting better so we'll see. That's why the Cardinal, which by the way has almost an identical color scheme as the Debonair you flew! Love the videos. Keep em coming 👍
beachcraft does have some beautiful planed. Would love to take a flight in one at some point. Though I doubt I will find one as awesome as this 550 anytime soon.
I flew a 225 hp version around Australia in early ‘66. Our company ran 2 x 285 hp A36 Bonanzas on 6 day week ‘paper runs. Our 400 Comanche wasn’t sufficiently fast enough to make the hot starts worth the hassle…..but it DID have a lovely wing. Beechcraft never had a working autopilot back then.
Now imagine this bird upgraded with the 300hp diesel engine in the DA50 burning jet A with single lever power control and glass avionics!!!! Now you've got my dream plane and probably for a bargain price. It might have to be called "experimental"😮
Flew about 20 hours in a B-33 Debonair, rented at GGG, Longview, TX when I was in school at Le Tourneau University in the mid 90s. I was surprised, and a little uneasy, to be signed off in less than an hour! The only complex I'd flown then was a very old Arrow. However, I learned the simple Debonair quickly & easily. It is still the finest GA airplane I have ever flown! I'll ditto everything Mark said in this excellent video. It's extremely comfortable, fast, quiet, incredibly stable, and easy to fly. What impressed me most was how rock-solid stable the Debonair flew, truly a hands-off plane! I also remember a challenge learning to slow it down. It's very aerodynamic & loves to fly fast!
As a former Bonanza (A-36) owner, your video brings back the memories of what a great flying machine it is. I have had the privilege of flying some classics (T-38, AC-47, and B-52).
Fantastic video I'm hard in the market for an Arrow or a Sierra, but now will definitely consider the Debonair! I love that, I would love to get 9 gal per hour but you're absolutely right if you get there twice as fast it's a win-win.
The first ever aircraft I ever flew was a '69 Beechcraft Musketeer. I never heard of the Debonair before but this looks like it's big brother. Everyday I learn something new.
Mark, great video. I’d love to own a Bonanza some day. Currently enjoying my 1964 Cessna 150D….the future is bright! Love your videos and wonderful presentation every time.
First time watching one of your videos. Very well Done. Thank you. I have never hard of this plane. Very cool. Also I had never heard of a landing gear mirror at the end of the wing. Very interesting.
I used to fly a 1973 Cherokee Arrow II in the mid-70's. Occasionally, I'd go on charters with my flight instructor in a Beech A-36. The Arrow was nice, but the A-36 was a Cadillac with a lot more muscle. Nice review. Thanks..
Absolutely love your videos. I've been honestly torn between my first plane, being a V-Tail, Sundowner, or a Sierra. Never heard of this series but I may have to add this to my list of potentials. I have a couple years before I really need to make a decision and continue building my hours up but channels like this really give me some solid perspective.
Every time I installed an oil cooler I placed it outside the engine compartment (flat with a 2" rise) added a thermostat and bypass so when the oil was below normal temp the bypass would block oil from getting to the cooler. When oil temp reached norm the bypass routed oil to the cooler. When oil hit Max Temp a small electric high speed fan kicked in bringing oil temp down fast. Worked like a dream. Especially good if you are stationery on the tarmac waiting to take off.
Thanks Mark. Great content I have a client I give BFR and ICC in an F33. I learned something form video. Thanks. One soapbox request. Please don’t move flaps on the runway. Especially since you move between “normal” and Beech Switchology Take care.
An excellent plane indeed! Enjoyable review of a Beechcraft product. I've not flown a Debonair but I do have time in Bonanzas and Barons. For high performance aircraft, one will be pleased with these machines.
Nice planes Beech Debonairs are, I happen to own a Debonair B with the IO470K, it’s always a pleasure to fly it. Thanks for the video, excellent channel
Great video, Mark! My brother has a 1966 C33-A Debonair, IO-520, 285 HP, and a 2-blade prop, it's really a nice ride. He had tip-tanks put on, it's got over a 1600 lb useful load and he can cruise all day in comfort @ 170 kn. He used to have a 1952 Bonanza with the V-tail and yeah, that 'Bonanza Boogy' minor fishtailing in flight, while not a problem, I'd rather do without. The Debonair is a smooth machine. I have minor mobility issues so getting out of a low wing is something of a controlled crash (LOL) so I'm good with my old 172.
Woulda loved your walk-around of a MD-82 at G.R. Mich that just barely survived a terrific downdraft from visual warning from MDOT pickup. i.e. 5 - breaks in main wingspar, vee wing tips hanging to ground, all tin stretched out, antennas gone, oak limbs hanging from belly, & need new Cabin Crew as all injured. You'd a been for that!!
@@skywagonuniversity5023 - Incident mid '90s, met Capt again Tampa Pilots' Lounge 11-'96. He had just got job back as punished royally for wrecking airline's plane. They had basically rubbed his nose in it as NTSB said "Pilot Error". Capt starts w/his tale of whoa, but when got to emergency actions, he just couldn't remember, so I said, "Capt, you went full gas/flaps, gear up, nose slight down, then disappeared straight down plummeting into woods w/big smoke". Capt 2X my size, jumped up glowering over my table & said, "And just how in the hell would you know that?" I replied, "I was the ahole in the highway truck you just mentioned...here's my MDOT ID. Capt froze in mid-kill, looked ID over, & said, "I've been lookin' for you...would you like to join us at our table? 2nd grievous error was declined as had already ordered my burger. Capt grabbed me, set me at their table saying, "You look like a T-Bone Man to me", & so it was. Capt conned into relation of worst day in his life by his 1st Ofcr & SWA pair for teaching purposes only. I wrote all details of discussion on hard stock dinner napkin, including part where busted by local PD while pulling oak limbs from belly on charges of Evidence Tampering, Leaving Scene, & Joyriding Plane! Sorry no photos, but have buddy out in Holly Wood that's done shtload of films but no Oscar. Have other buddy out there that can write AND direct, so you should make copy of this comment of 1-31-23 so if movie comes out, you can post it with own comment, "Yes...yes...I heard all about this years ago!"
The '46 Ercoupe that I still fly has interlinked controls and no rudder pedals at all. First plane with trike gear too. Even though I cruise at 3 gals./hr, it takes an hour to go 100 miles. Makes it about 27mph. This is comparable and with 4 instead of 2.
That is a lovely aeroplane. I think the $250.00 per hour avgas cost, at United Kingdom prices would concern me, but if you want luxury....... 🤔. Thanks for posting.
Fabric covered control surfaces were still quite common in 1947. P-51 Mustangs had fabric covered rudders. Corsairs had fabric covered tail control surfaces, and up until the post-war -5 version they had partially fabric covered outer wing panels. Where I grew up we had a Lockheed Super Constellation mounted above a local restaurant and I only realized that it had fabric covered tail control surfaces when the fabric eventually rotted and fell off over the years.
You're a great salesman! I want one. Trouble is I end up wanting a lot of the planes you show. (and I'm not a pilot). Of course, I've loved Bonanza's and the Debonairs for over 60 years!
Love the channel. Seen this post before, but came back to watch again because of Jenny Blalock's accident. This is the same type of plane she was flying. Just wanted to get some insight.
My flight examiner's last check ride given was in a Beech with a throwover yoke.. I imagine he'd have lived another decade or two if there were two yokes. Flat spin I hear. Ray was a highly respected pilot and man. So this Debonair is splendid in my opinion, except for that particular yoke.
That's on me. I couldn't figure out what happened when the sound went mono. Still don't know what happened. But, it suddenly went back to stereo. It's a mystery of the universe. - Don the Camera Guy.
Just watched your vid. I flew only Cessnas m, 152 172 277RG, 182 and 210T. After the 182 the 210T even the boost issues were a natural progression. Now, after your video why the Debonair/Bonanza killed so many! They have hugely complicated systems!0】
My GOSH. I would rather stick with aircraft that have systems and ergonomics that will help ensure that things move as smoothly as possible when the chips are down!
A friend of mine had the V tail and took off and violently turned left, starved the engine of gas, had to make a dead stick landing. He was later killed in bad weather, leaving Houston.
Mark…Nice airplane. The problem with a low wing is the placement of the wing. On a hot summer day you’re flying in a greenhouse. Much rather fly in the shade. That tail wag in a V-tail is cured with a yaw damper. The Garmin GFC 500 autopilot has a YD function that works quite well, as you would expect with Garmin. I bet that yoke with the PTT and trim on the right side was originally a right side yoke for for a double yoke airplane.
In 1960 it did not come with a 260hp IO-470-N, it came with a 225hp IO-470K. ( 2:26 ) This early IO-470K power plant is one of the few injected engines that is eligible for an auto-fuel STC. Would have been good to discuss this, no?
If you want a scoop try the new Gogetair G750 915 version. Similar to bonanza speed but a fraction of the fuel burn, brand new and a fraction of the running cost. Approximately same new price as a very old bonanza.
Mark owns Skywagons.com, an aircraft brokerage. It was natural to name the channel after the business. That said, search across our platform and there are four 180 videos. - Don the Camera Guy
Never flew a Beachcraft. Cessna man personally,152 to 210T I do not appreciate the fussy emergency systems and procedures of the Bonanza/Debonair. Stesight forward C210 will be a better option when the chips are down.
A beech has a simple emergency system like a 210. The 210 is select down and pump and the Beech is select down and crank. (basically) The good thing about the 210 is that you can see the gear.
