Bay Super V Bonanza

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Beginning in the late 1940s Bay Aviation (formerly Oakland Aeromotive) produced nine twin-engine conversions of the Beechcraft Bonanza called the Super "V" Bonanza. The basis of the conversion was the small-tailed, 1953 model C35 Bonanza. The Super "V" Bonanza may be considered the true Twin Bonanza as the Beechcraft Twin Bonanza is completely different (50% larger) than its smaller namesake.

[edit] Development

Little is known about the history of the Bay Aviation Super "V" Bonanza. The aircraft is an extensive conversion of the 1953 C35 Bonanza. The internal airframe was strengthened considerably in the converson. The airframe is so different from the original Bonanza that, rather than supplementing the original type certificate, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a completely new certificate for the Super "V". The program was in full swing in 1955, with Bay continuing to use the small-tail variant even after Beechcraft enlarged the control surfaces. Bay felt the aft fuselage of the new Bonanza wasn't strong enough for their purposes.

The Oregon Aviation Museum owns a Super "V" Bonanza (N3124V). The FAA Registry lists that aircraft as manufactured by Pine Air. In photographs its airframe appears identical, except for larger tail control surfaces, to that of the Bay Super "V" Bonanza (N551B) owned by the Warbirds of the World Flying Museum in New Mexico. The larger tail of the Oregon airplane may be because the aircraft was damaged in a landing and rebuilt with parts from a 1958 Bonanza.