Beechcraft Travel Air

Infobox Aircraft
name = Model 95 Travel Air

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caption = Tied down at EAA AirVenture 2008, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
type = Light twin aircraft
national origin = USA
manufacturer = Beechcraft
designer =
first flight = 6 Aug 1956
introduction = 1958
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced = 1958-1968
number built = 720
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =The Beechcraft Travel Air was a twin-engine development of the Beechcraft Bonanza. It was designed to fill the gap between the single engine Model 35 Bonanza and the much larger Model 50 Twin-Bonanza.Phillips, Edward H: "Beechcraft - Staggerwing to Starship", page 62-63]

Design and development

The Travel Air took the fuselage of the G-35 Bonanza and the tail control surfaces of the T-34 Mentor. It was initially powered by Lycoming O-360 engines that produced 180 horsepower each. Later models would receive a fuel injected version of the same engine. In later production the tail control surfaces were replaced with a swept design which resembled the Debonair but was larger (to handle engine-out situations) and it was renamed the Baron. The Baron also had more powerful engines, Continental IO-470s that produced 260 horsepower. Variants of the Baron later became turbocharged and pressurized.

Beechcraft initially named the Travel Air the Badger but NATO had already designated the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 bomber as the "Badger" so Beech dropped the name.

The Travel Air was produced from 1958 to 1968. It first flew in 1956.

Variants

Beechcraft made four variants of Travel Air's during its production run from 1958 to 1968.

Model 95

The initial model was built in 1958 and 1959. Production totals for 1958 and 1959 were 173 and 128 respectively.

Model B95/B95A

Changes in the B95 version included a 19 inch cabin stretch to increase rear cabin area and the horizontal stabilizer and elevators were enlarged for better pitch control. A curved vertical stabilizer dorsal fairing is the most noticeable change. The gross weight was increased 100 pounds. The 1961 Model B95A featured fuel injected Lycoming IO-360-B1A engines. 150 B95's were built in 1960, and 81 B95A's were built between 1961 and 1962.

Model D95

In 1963 the Travel Air featured a larger rear window that is common with the Model A55/B55 Barons. The nose section was reshaped and the forward baggage space was redesigned. 174 D95's between 1963 and 1967.

Model E95

The E95 featured a one piece windshield and a more pointed spinner design. Just 14 Model E95 were built in 1968. The production drop off was due to the more affordable and powerful Model 55 Baron.

pecifications (A95/B95/B95A/D95A/E95)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=one, pilot
capacity=three to four passengers
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 25 ft 4 in
length alt= 7.72 m
span main= 37 ft 10 in
span alt= 11.53 m
height main=
height alt=
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,780 lb
empty weight alt= 1,260 kg
loaded weight main= 4,000 lb—4,200 lb, based upon model
loaded weight alt= 1,800 kg—1,900 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 4,000 lb—4,200 lb [B95, B95A, D95A]
max takeoff weight alt= 1,800 kg—1,900 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Lycoming O-360-A1A or Lycoming IO-360-B1A or Lycoming IO-360-B1B
type of prop=
number of props=2
power main= 180 hp
power alt= 134 kW
power original=
max speed main=183 kt
max speed alt= 339 km/h / 211 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 660—1060 nm, based on model
range alt= 760—925 mi / 1,223—1,448 km
ceiling main= 18,100 ft
ceiling alt= 5,500 m
climb rate main= 1,100—1,250 ft/min, based upon model
climb rate alt= 5.6—6.4 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Phillips, Edward H: "Beechcraft - Staggerwing to Starship", Flying Books, 1987. ISBN 0-911139-06-0

ee also

aircontent
related=
Beechcraft Bonanza -
T-34 Mentor -
Beechcraft Baron -
Bay Super V Bonanza
similar aircraft=

sequence=
80 -
88 -
90 -95 -
99 -
100
lists=

see also=