Screen shots by FSD

Beechcraft Bonanza is a general-aviation aircraft designed and built by Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. It has low wings, a single piston-prop engine, and tricycle landing gear. About 50 models have been built since the aircraft was originally introduced in 1947. Model G36 was introduced in 2006 and is still in production.

Model 35 has the distinctive V tail that makes it unique in all aviation. Almost 20 variants were produced between 1947 and 1982 with incremental improvements such as more powerful engines, higher weight capacities, and longer ranges. Model 35B (or B35), which was introduced in 1950, has been rendered by Flight Sim Developers International for FSX.

"We selected the V-tail Bonanza for development because it is an aviation classic," explains FSD International spokesman Tim Dickens. "If you travel to Oshkosh for the annual AirVenture show you will see dozens of V-tail Bonanzas parked on the tarmac. Yet, at the time we began development, it had not been represented at all amongst the high quality addons available for Flight Simulator X. It has higher take-off weight than the original 35, plus other minor changes."

Numerous features heralded by FSD International include these:

• Accurate detailed 3D model using 3D mesh modeling
• Precisely realistic flight dynamics
• Custom designed Garmin G480 avionics
• Extensive documentation
• Repaint kit for aircraft painting enthusiasts

FSD International also mentions visual features such as reflective shine, luminosity, bump mapping, and "all of the texture mapping effects" introduced in FSX Service Pack 2.

AVAILABLE COLOR SCHEMES
Selection Menu	All Blue	White & Blue
White & Red	Red & Black	Silver/Gray & Red
Screen shots by Bill Stack

Visual Features

Inside and outside, this aircraft reveals considerable attention to accuracy and details. All dimensions and shapes are accurate compared to photos I found, of which there are many. Surface textures, shading, and reflections make the aircraft appear very realistic. The five exteriors are not only different colors — they are different patterns and with distinct numbers.

VISUAL FEATURES
Reflections	Shading	Surface Textures

Shading	Reflections
Screen shots by Bill Stack

NIGHT EFFECTS

The Bonanza 35B's Cockpit & Cabin

With so many variants and so many models sold over 65 years, there is a wide variety of cockpit styles and appearances. FSD rendering of this unusual cockpit appears substantially accurate compared with the real-world photos I found. All features are crisp and clear. The cabin is advertised as "luxury interior," which represents the aircraft outfitted with features the manufacturer considered addons, such as panel type and seating, FSD explained.

As expected, FSD's Bonanza 35B has foot pedals for the right-seat. How else could the aircraft be flown from the right seat? But the real-world photo I found on Airliners.Net shows right-seat foot pedals that appear to be nonfunctional. Tim Dickens said: "I don't doubt that there are some Bonanzas out there that are configured differently. For example, not all have a yoke that can be moved to the other side either. But most do, including the one that we modeled."

BONANZA 35B'S INTERIORS
Left Seat View	Right Seat View
Back Seat View	Looking Backward
Screen shots by Bill Stack

The Bonanza 35B's Instruments & Controls

The 35B by FSD International has a conventional instrument panel with mechanical instruments, yet it has distinctive features.

• It has no flight instruments for the right seat. Its only control yoke is mounted on an arm that's mounted on a shaft in the cockpit's center. Instead of being in the center, where many radio stacks are placed, the 35's radio stack is in front of the right seat. There are no foot pedals for the right seat in the real-world photo I found, but there are foot pedals for the right seat in the FSD rendition. In response to my question, Tim Dickens said: "We have never seen a Bonanza that did not have pedals, and we have seen a lot of them."
  
  
• The Garmin GNS 480 GPS is more versatile than the Garmin 295 and 500 models that are standard with default FSX aircraft. As examples: When first turned on, it displays a text page showing local time and date, the aircraft's position in latitude and longitude, and its altitude, heading, and magnetic variation for the current position. It also shows the currently tuned communication-radio frequencies. To the left of the display screen are push buttons for active and standby radio frequencies and transponder. It includes pages for fuel data, air traffic in the vicinity, and flight timing. Clicking on the GPS screen opens the popup window, and clicking on the screen in the popup closes it. Clicking on the buttons works the unit but doesn't close the popup. The popup window is small, however, so I enlarged it with my mouse. This GPS unit is installed in the avionics section. (Adding modern instruments to old aircraft is common in the real world — there was no civilian GPS when the final 35B was built in 1982.)
  
  
• Other avionics such as the radios and autopilot are unlike those found in default FSX aircraft in various ways. They provide different data, or display it differently, or have different means of accessing and using those data.
  
  
• This aircraft has one yoke instead of the customary two. Mounted in the center, it swings from the left-seat position to the right-seat position so the aircraft can be operated from either station. In FSD's rendition, it swings to one side and the other with mouse clicks.

All instruments and gauges are crisp, clear, and easy to read.

I observed reflections of clouds in the magnetic compass glass, but no reflections of anything in other instruments.

BONANZA 35B'S INSTRUMENTS
Main Panel	Avionics
GPS Popup Window	Garman GNS 480
Screen shots by Bill Stack

The Bonanza's Performance Specifications

Performance specifications for Bonanza 35s are widely available on the Internet, but variations abound because so many models were built over the last 65 years. FSD International provides detailed performance specifications for its Bonanza 35B in its manuals.

The Bonanza's Performance

For my flight tests, I used Beech Factory Airport (KBEC) in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. It has one concrete runway 8,009 feet long, and its elevation is 1,408 feet. I used the aircraft's default fuel and payload weights and standard atmosphere.

This aircraft performed much like others of its type through all flight phases. It taxied effortlessly. It took off between 65 and 70 knots indicated airspeed, climbed out easily at 90 KIAS and 750 feet per minute. It cruised comfortably at 140 KIAS at 5,000 feet, 118 KIAS at 8,000 feet, and 94 KIAS at 11,000. Using a quick true-airspeed formula, these indicated airspeeds calculate to 154, 137, and 115 KTAS, respectively. It descended smoothly with power reduced slightly. It approached between 70 and 80 KIAS without flaps, and it touched down between 60 and 70 KIAS. During one test flight, I was able to induce a stall at 56 KIAS.

The FSD Bonanza 35B is 79 pounds overweight. Like many aircraft of this type, it cannot carry a full load of everything. The fuel, payload, or both must be less than full capacity. Sim pilots should therefore reduce fuel, payload, or both before embarking on their flights in this aircraft. Also, it topped out at at 12,535 FT although the specified ceiling is 17,500 FT. To see how this aircraft handles when not overloaded, I reduced fuel and payload to 50 percent, which reduced gross take-off weight to 2,490 pounds, which is 160 pounds below maximum. I found very little difference in overall flight characteristics, but it climbed to 14,750 feet at 85 KTS (110 TAS) after a long while. In response to my question, the developer said: "This is not unusual with any aircraft in Flight Simulator. Microsoft has never adequately modeled the Earth's atmosphere in Flight Simulator. Published real-world specs on aircraft ceiling, etc. can rarely be attained. Also, even in the real world, an aircraft ceiling as published is not necessarily the altitude that is easy to reach in the aircraft. With enough effort trimming controls, adjusting manifold pressure and mixture, and enough time to do it it is possible to reach something close to this altitude given enough time. It may take a while. This is true in the real world and in Flight Simulator."

Not being a Bonanza 35B pilot, and never having flown a Bonanza 35B, I cannot say how closely FSD's rendition resembles the real-world aircraft's performance.

BONANZA 35 IN FLIGHT
Screen shots by Bill Stack

Animations

Several animations are included. The small window next to the pilot opens and closes. The right seat back leans forward and returns upright to enable passengers to enter and exit the back seats. A small storage box in the far right side of the main instrument panel opens and closes, showing contents while the door is open. The single center-mounted yoke swings from left to right position. Push/pull knobs and toggle switches move. All these are activated with mouse clicks. The passenger and cargo doors open with keystrokes instead of mouse clicks. Flaps, ailerons, rudders, and landing gear move as usual.

ANIMATIONS
Right Seat Down	Map Box Open	Visors Down

Yoke at Copilot	Window Open
Screen shots by Bill Stack

The Load Manager

Flight Sim Developers includes a Load Manager with its Bonanza 35B. This supplementary program can be used for several purposes: selecting monitor-screen size, setting cockpit-sound volume, checking engine status and operating costs, and choosing which of the five color schemes to fly. When saved, these changes are effected in the FSX aircraft-configuration file.

LOAD MANAGER
Load Manager Screen	Load Manager Handbook
Screen shots by Bill Stack

The Documents

Several manuals in Adobe Acrobat format (*.pdf) are included for various topics:

• Online Installation: This manual provides step-by-step instructions over 14 pages for installing via internet, replete with numerous annotated screen shots.



• Non online installation: This 17-page manual explains how to install without internet, using a different computer because an internet connection is require for activating the FSD license.



• Bonanza 35 Pilot Operating Handbook: This 52-page manual provides in-depth instructions for simulating flight with the Beechcraft Bonanza 35. It contains aircraft specifications and performance data, a glossary of relevant aviation terms, checklists, and emergency procedures. It includes annotated screen shots. "We urge you to take the time to review the POH as part of your first preflight," FSD says in its "Readme.txt" file.



• Garmin GNS 480 GPS: Using 75 pages and numerous annotated screen shots, this manual provides detailed instruction on using the Garmin GNS 480 GPS unit.



• KA155 Nav-Com Transceiver: This 6-page manual with annotated screen shots explains the use of the navigation and communication radios.



• KFC 225 Autopilot: With annotated screen shots, this 12-page manual explains the use of the autopilot.



• KR 87 ADF Radio: This manual uses annotated screen shots and diagrams over 10 pages to explain the automatic direction finder.



• Load Manager Handbook: This handbook contains 14 pages explaining how to use the Load Manager, including annotated screen shots.



• Airspeed Terminology: This glossary repeats information in the POH, isolated for quick reference.



• Kneeboard: The kneeboard includes detailed checklists and reference sheets that provide thorough guidance on simulating flight in this aircraft.

DOCUMENT SAMPLES
POH Cover	POH Page 10	POH Page 23
Load Manager Handbook Page 5	Avionics Manual	Checklist
Screen shot by Bill Stack

Technical Features

Flight Sim Developers' Bonanza 35B is for FSX only. System requirements are not specified. It worked without difficulty on my system.

When FSX loads, it asks if users want to run "FDav.dll," which is a driver that allows much more advanced programming for the GNS 480 avionics than would be possible with plain XML code, FSD explained. Users should therefore accept this add-on.

In the Aircraft Selection menu, the Bonanza is listed in the manufacturer category under "Beechcraft."

Frame rates are very good, ranging in the teens, 20s, and 30s just like default FSX aircraft.

Sounds are unique to this aircraft with 30 distinct sound files installed into the sound folder. They were created "in house" by FSD based on single-engine aircraft recordings.

Removing the product (if desired) must be done through the Windows Add/Remove programs function or with Windows Explorer.

Responses to questions were quick and clear, which bodes well for buyers who have questions about the product.

Readers with technical questions not answered in this review should ask the developer, who is in the best position to answer such questions. Using the links below, go to the Pilot Shop page where the product is listed and described, then click on "Manufacturer Tech Support" in the right column.

More Information

Information about the real-world Beechcraft Bonanza 35B is available from:

• Hawker Beechcraft
  
  
• Airliners.Net
  
  
• Fly Bonanza Today

REAL-WORLD IMAGES
Airliners.Net	Fly Bonanza Today	Airliners.Net

The Developer

FSD International describes itself as "a leading design group for Microsoft Flight Simulator addons for the past 15+ years," says spokesman Tim Dickens. "Beginning in Flight Simulator 5, FSD aircraft have represented many of the cutting edge aircraft models, flight models and panel/systems designs that have been released," he said. Flight Sim Developers also produces a Turbine Toucan.

Wrapup

This aircraft is accurately rendered inside and out, replete with reflections, shading, textures, and other features that enable a realistic appearance at all times. It is easy and fun to fly. The documents are very thorough and useful. The Load Manager provides additionally useful functions.

Bill Stack
billstack@flightsim.com


Learn more about the Beechcraft Bonanza 35B by FSD International.

Bill Stack is author of several books about flight simulation, a regular author in flight-sim magazines, and a contributor to Flight Sim Com. His website is www.topskills.com