This 1987 Beechcraft Bonanza A36 Is a Modernized ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Upgraded interior, paint, and panel add to six-place family hauler’s appeal.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, October 16, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1987 Beechcraft Bonanza A36 [Credit: Ron Snuggs]

Key Takeaways:

The article features a 1987 Beechcraft Bonanza A36 as "Today's Top Pick," highlighting its status as a classic, highly desired six-seat aircraft known for its spacious cabin and versatility for various missions.
This particular Bonanza A36 is extensively upgraded for long-distance travel, boasting auxiliary fuel, turbo-normalizing for enhanced high-altitude capability, custom paint and interior, and a substantially updated Garmin IFR avionics suite.
Priced at $525,000, this 1987 model is presented as an ideal option for pilots seeking a capable, well-equipped, and pleasant-handling cross-country aircraft backed by strong factory support.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1987 Beechcraft Bonanza A36.

On several occasions when I was shopping for an airplane I heard other pilots say things like, “Everyone wants a Bonanza.” That might be an overstatement, but the long-running Beechcraft design certainly is a classic and ranks among those airplanes that pilots dream of owning.

This Bonanza’s panel features major upgrades. [Credit: Ron Snuggs]

The aircraft for sale today arguably is the ultimate version of the Bonanza, with a stretched fuselage and six seats that give pilots more carrying capacity and flexibility in loading passengers and cargo. Interestingly, the A36 started out as a bare-bones utility aircraft built to compete with heavy haulers like the Cessna 206 and Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, both of which often serve as flying pickup trucks. Customers soon started ordering them with better interior appointments and equipment suited to cross-country travel.

Before long the A36 was established at the top of the piston single food chain, where it has remained ever since. Even more modern, high-performance aircraft like the Cirrus SR22 cannot quite match the six-seat Bonanza’s cavernous cabin and double cargo doors.

Today’s example is ready for long-distance personal and business travel, with auxiliary fuel and turbo-normalizing for enhanced high-altitude capability. Passengers will appreciate the aircraft’s custom paint and interior while pilots can make the most of its substantially updated avionics.

By 1987, Beechcraft was equipping the A36 with a 300 hp IO-550. [Credit: Ron Snuggs]

This 1987 Bonanza A36 has 4,430 hours on the airframe and 1,210 since overhaul on its 300 hp Continental IO-550-B. The aircraft is equipped with a Tornado Alley Whirlwind II turbo-normalizing system and GAMI fuel injectors and engine baffles.

The IFR panel features Garmin 10.6-inch G500TXi PFD/MFD, GTN 750 GPS/nav/com, GNC 355 GPS/nav/com, GMA 345 audio panel, GTX 345W transponder with ADS-B In and Out, SiriusXM weather and traffic, and GFC 500 autopilot.

Additional equipment includes Osborne 20-gallon tip tanks, B&C standby alternator, D’Shannon aileron and flap gap seals, LED external lighting, Rosen sun visors, and Jet Shades window shades.

Pilots looking for a spacious and capable cross-country traveling aircraft with pleasant handling and strong factory support should consider this 1987 Beechcraft Bonanza A36, which is available for $525,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use our airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.