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Beechcraft · 1958–1964

Beechcraft Bonanza 35 J-S Middle V-Tail (1958-1964)

v-tailbonanzaretractablelow-wingcross-countryhigh-performanceComplexfastclassicvintage
Beechcraft Bonanza 35 J-S Middle V-Tail (1958-1964)i

Specifications

Cruise

168KTAS

Range

700nm

Seats

4

Useful Load

1350lbs

Full-fuel payload

870lbs

Fuel Burn

13.5gph

Fuel Cap.

80gal

MPG

14.3mpg

Stall (Vs0)

52KIAS

T/O roll

950ft

Ldg roll

590ft

Power

250hp

Engine

piston single

Gear

Retractable

IFR

Yes

Category

certified

Pricing

Typical

$95k

Range

$55k – $145k

Annual all-in

~$17k/yr

All-in estimate at ~100 flying hours a year — fuel, annual inspection, engine reserve, insurance, and hangar. It scales with your actual hours, and insurance and hangar vary most by region and pilot.

Cost to own — estimate

Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel and the engine reserve do.

100
20300
$6.50
$3$10
Fuel (13.5 gph)
$8,775
Engine reserve (toward overhaul)
$2,533
Fixed (insurance, hangar, annual, subscriptions)
$5,692
Total per year
$17,000
Per flight hour
$170
Miles flown / year (at cruise)
19,333 mi
Cost per mile
$0.88/mi

Estimate, not a quote — insurance and hangar (the fixed bucket) vary most by region and pilot. Anchored to our model figure at 100 hrs and $6.50/gal.

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Strengths

  • 168 KTAS cruise with 250 HP IO-470-N — fastest in middle-era V-tail lineup
  • Best-flying V-tail ever produced — light controls, balanced harmony, moderate gross weight
  • Fuel injection standard — carburetor ice elimination, better high-altitude performance
  • Value sweet spot — meaningfully faster than early Bonanzas, $20k–$40k cheaper than S35

Weaknesses

  • 65+ year-old Continental IO-470 cylinders prone to cracking — borescope inspection essential
  • Two critical V-tail tail-attach ADs (94-20-04, 91-22-04) require documented compliance verification
  • Partial or missing logbooks common — major-event continuity (engine SMOH, prop overhaul) difficult to verify
  • Aged magnetos on infrequent-use aircraft develop internal corrosion

Overview

The 1958-1964 Beechcraft Bonanza J35 through S35 series represents the middle era of V-tail Bonanza development -- between the original 1947-1957 "early" Bonanzas (35 through H35, generally 196-225 HP) and the late V35/V35A/V35B (1966-1982). This era saw the transition from 225 HP to 240/250 HP Continental IO-470 engines, gradual gross weight increases (2,950 → 3,300 lbs), and refined avionics integration. Approximately 4,000 examples were produced across the seven-year run.

This middle era is the value sweet spot of the V-tail Bonanza market -- meaningfully faster and more capable than the early Bonanzas, but at significantly lower pricing than V35B examples (which command premium pricing due to 285 HP IO-520 power, late production, and "last V-tail" status).

Variants & History

Variant Breakdown by Letter

VariantYearsEngineHPMax GrossNotes
J351958Continental IO-470-C2502,950First fuel-injected Bonanza
K351959Continental IO-470-C2502,950Refinements
M351960Continental IO-470-C2502,950Refinements
N351961Continental IO-470-N2603,125+10 HP, gross increase
P351962-1963Continental IO-470-N2603,125Major refinements
S351964Continental IO-520-B2853,300IO-520 introduction, gross to 3,300

The S35 (1964) is the first 285 HP Bonanza and effectively the prototype for the V35B engine configuration. S35 pricing trades closer to V35 levels than to earlier J-P variants.

Distinguishing Features (vs Early Bonanzas and V35)

FeatureEarly 35-H35 (1947-1957)J35-S35 (1958-1964)V35/V35A/V35B (1966-1982)
EngineContinental E-185-1/E-225/O-470IO-470-C/N (J-P) / IO-520-B (S35)IO-520-B/BA
HP165-225250-285285
Fuel systemCarburetorFuel injection (J35+)Fuel injection
Max gross2,650-2,900 lbs2,950-3,300 lbs3,400 lbs
Useful load~900-1,150 lbs~1,200-1,350 lbs~1,294 lbs
Cruise152-165 KTAS165-170 KTAS172 KTAS
Avionics eraPre-modernMid-modernModern

The J35 Fuel-Injection Transition

The 1958 J35 was the first fuel-injected Bonanza -- Continental's new IO-470-C replaced the carbureted O-470. This transition was driven by:

  • Better high-altitude mixture management
  • Elimination of carburetor ice
  • Smoother running
  • Marginal fuel economy improvement

Fuel injection has been standard on all Bonanzas since. The J35 transition is often referenced as the "modernization" point in the V-tail Bonanza line.

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Performance

168 KTAS cruise at 7,500 ft (75% power), 1,100 FPM climb at gross, 13.5 GPH. Service ceiling 19,000 ft. Range with reserves at 80 gallons: 700 NM at economy cruise.

The middle-era V-tail Bonanzas are notably light on the controls compared to later V35s -- many V-tail enthusiasts consider the M35/N35/P35 to be the best-flying V-tails ever produced. The combination of moderate gross weight, ample power, and balanced control harmony is hard to beat.

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Valuation Factors

ConditionPrice Range
Project / needs engine$40,000-$60,000
Flying but tired (J35-M35)$55,000-$85,000
Well-maintained (N35-P35)$80,000-$120,000
Well-maintained S35 (IO-520)$100,000-$145,000
Restored / IO-550 upgraded$130,000-$185,000

S35 (1964) examples trade $20,000-$40,000 above J35-P35 examples due to the IO-520 engine and 3,300 lb gross weight. Late P35s (1963) trade close to S35 levels.

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ADs & Common Problems

V-tail Bonanza universal concerns apply. J35-S35-specific:

  1. Bonanza V-tail tail attach AD compliance: AD 94-20-04 (forward bulkhead inspection) and AD 91-22-04 (V-tail fork inspection) apply to all V-tails. Verify compliance.
  2. Continental IO-470 cylinder condition: 65+ year-old IO-470 cylinders can crack. Borescope inspection essential.
  3. Magneto condition: Aged magnetos on infrequent-use aircraft can have internal corrosion.
  4. Logbook completeness: 60+ year-old aircraft often have partial logbook losses. Verify continuity of major-event records (engine SMOH, prop overhaul, ADs).
  5. Bonanza Society participation: Aircraft with documented Bonanza Society pre-buys and ADs-complied paperwork command premium pricing.

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