Oct 26 (edited) • Look at this deal
Why This 1978 V35B Bonanza Is the Best Bang‑for‑the‑Buck V‑Tail
I’ve spent the last few weeks combing through Trade‑A‑Plane listings to find a V‑tail Bonanza that offers the most value for the money. Out of the handful of V‑tails in the $200 K–$300 K range, one aircraft really stands out: a 1978 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza (N9AB) priced at $239 000. Below is a breakdown of why it’s such a compelling deal.
Overall Summary
CategoryHighlightsWhy It MattersPrice$239 KMid‑market price with lots of new equipmenttrade-a-plane.comTotal Time4 047 hrs TTAFModerate for a 1978 airframeEngineIO‑520‑BA, 1 371 hrs SMOH, 223 hrs since top overhaultrade-a-plane.comFresh top‑end work means years of flying before the next overhaulAvionicsGarmin GFC‑500 autopilot, GTN‑650Xi GPS, dual GI‑275 EFIS, GMA 350 audio panel, GNC 255 Nav/Com, GTX 345 ADS‑B transponder, engine monitortrade-a-plane.comModern “glass‑panel” capability; IFR‑readyConditionNew interior (2025), no damage history, always hangared, corrosion‑freetrade-a-plane.comYou won’t inherit someone else’s headachesModsElectronic ignition, tip‑tanks (114 gal total fuel), LED lighting, ruddervators stripped/painted (2024)trade-a-plane.comExtended range and reliability improvements
Cost vs. Install‑Time Breakdown
To appreciate how good this deal is, let’s look at what each major upgrade would cost if you installed it yourself on a cheaper airframe. (These times are ballpark estimates from shops; actual times vary with avionics layout and aircraft.)
Item/UpgradeApprox. cost newApprox. install timeValue in this aircraftGFC‑500 3‑axis autopilot$20 K–$25 K40–60 hrsAlready installed and dialed‑intrade-a-plane.comGarmin GTN‑650Xi WAAS GPS$12 K–$15 K20–30 hrsModern IFR navigator; WAAS approach capabilityDual Garmin GI‑275 (ADI & HSI)$10 K–$12 K15–20 hrsProvides attitude/HSI with synthetic visionGMA 350 audio panel$3 K–$4 K4–6 hrsBluetooth audio & 3D audio—already thereGNC‑255 nav/com$4 K–$5 K5–8 hrsSecond digital NAV/COMGTX‑345 ADS‑B transponder$4 K4–6 hrsProvides ADS‑B In/OutJPI FS‑450 fuel totalizer & EDM‑700 engine monitor$3 K6–8 hrsReal‑time fuel & engine health monitoringElectronic ignition (ElectroAir)$2 K–$3 K6–10 hrsSmoother starts, better fuel efficiencytrade-a-plane.comNew millennium cylinders/top‑overhaul$15 K–$20 K30–40 hrsDone at 3 824 hrs; only ~223 hrs sincetrade-a-plane.comNew interior (2025)$15 K–$25 K100–200 hrsCompleted this year—saves you time and moneyTip‑tanks (Osborne 20‑gal each)$10 K–$12 K60–80 hrsGives 114 gal total fuel—long legs for cross‑countryLED lighting upgrade$1 K2–3 hrsModern visibility & low amp drawRuddervators stripped/painted$4 K–$6 K20–30 hrsDone in 2024; removes magnesium corrosion risk
If you bought a cheaper Bonanza and tried to replicate this setup, you could easily spend $80 K–$100 K in parts and 250+ shop hours. That doesn’t include downtime and the hassles of project management. With N9AB, all of that work has been done recently.
Why It Beats the Other Candidates
When I compared this aircraft against two other V‑tails I found (a $299.9 K 1966 “showpiece” with very low hourstrade-a-plane.com and a $199 K 1966 model with high time and a prior gear‑up landingtrade-a-plane.com), N9AB struck the best balance:
- Modern avionics without the premium price: You’re getting IFR‑capable Garmin gear that rivals much newer airplanes. The only other Bonanza with as nice a panel was $60 K more.
- No damage history: Unlike the cheaper 1966 example (which had a gear‑up landing in 2007trade-a-plane.com), this plane has never been benttrade-a-plane.com.
- Recent top‑end and new interior: You won’t need to budget for engine work or cosmetic refurbishment for years.
- Extended range & reliability: Tip‑tanks, electronic ignition and LED lights are all desirable upgrades that cost time and money to retrofit.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
For anyone in our community who’s looking to make the leap back into aircraft ownership, this 1978 V35B Bonanza delivers a lot of airplane for the money. It’s ready to fly away today with a modern panel, fresh engine top‑end and clean maintenance history. At $239 K, it sits well below many V‑tails that don’t have these upgrades, making it, in my view, the “best bang‑for‑the‑buck” in the current V‑tail market.
If you’re seriously interested:
- Request the full logs and pre‑buy inspection (especially the ruddervators and wing bolts—always critical on V‑tails).
- Verify the top‑overhaul documentation to ensure warranty coverage and that it was done by a reputable shop.
- Check useful load with the tip‑tanks full (should be around 1 000–1 100 lbs).
- Budget for insurance and operating costs (around $15 K–$18 K per year depending on hull value and hours flown).
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Why This 1978 V35B Bonanza Is the Best Bang‑for‑the‑Buck V‑Tail
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