Textron Aviation announced late last week that it was ceasing production of the iconic G36 Bonanza and G58 Baron, ending a manufacturing dynasty that had its genesis during the Second World War.
Textron said production of the two revered six-seaters would make way for the new Denali single-engine turbo-prop, and left the door open for future designs to carry the Beechcraft name.
"As part of Textron Aviation's product investment plan, the company will end production of the Beechcraft Baron G58 and Beechcraft Bonanza G36 models once all current orders are fulfilled," a company spokesperson said.
"Known for their power and craftsmanship, the Baron and Bonanza aircraft have been cornerstones of the company’s leadership in the piston market for nearly eight decades.
"More than 6000 Baron and 18,000 Bonanza aircraft have been delivered worldwide.
"This December will mark the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Beechcraft Bonanza, a testament to the aircraft’s significance in aviation history.
"This strategic shift will enable Textron Aviation to focus on welcoming the Beechcraft Denali into its product portfolio while thoughtfully assessing future investments within this segment."
Beechcraft first designed the V-Tail Bonanza Model 35 in 1944, projecting that a glut of pilots de-mobbed after WWII would want to keep flying. It's all-metal, nosewheel design was revolutionary for the time. It entered production in 1947, and a twin-engine development, the Beech Travel Air was introduced in 1956.
A re-engined version of the Travel Air, named the Model 55 Baron, entered the market in 1960.
In the 1960s, Beechcraft introduced the straight-tail Model 33 Debonair and the longer Model 36. Buoyed by the success of the stretched Bonanza, a longer Model 58 Baron entered the product range in 1970.
It would be the Model 36 Bonanza and 58 Baron that would outlast other variants, with constant upgrades and styling changes keeping the airframes modern and relevant.
Broken only by the COVID-19 shutdown in 2021, the Bonanza was in production or development for the best part of 80 years.
But the advent of the Cirrus SR22 and Diamond DA42 and DA62 threatened Beechcraft's once-dominant market position. Composite and revolutionary, the two captured the desire of the GA market, to which the older designs of the all-metal Beechcraft products couldn't respond.
Textron shipped 35 Bonanzas and 35 Barons in 2013. By 2024 that was down to five and two respectively. Conversely, demand for the SR22 leapt across that period from 244 to 509. The DA62, which entered the market in 2015, sold two in its first year and 64 last year.
The GA community has been sending Textron a message, placing the Bonanza and Baron on thin ice for several years.
With the decision taken to delete the Beechcraft flagships, the product pages for the Bonanza and Baron quickly disappeared from the Textron Aviation website, although the company has apparently promised that spares and support for will continue, and that existing orders will be filled.
The Beechcraft brand will be carried only by the forthcoming Denali single-engined turbo-prop unless Textron elects to brand new designs with a name that was first used on the Model 17 Staggerwing of 1932.