![1986 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza [Credit: Carolina Aircraft]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/aircraft-single-engine-piston-be-12.jpg?width=800&height=533)
Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.
Today’s Top Pick is a 1986 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza.
For more than seven decades, the Beechcraft Bonanza has defined the high-performance, single-engine market. While the A36 model is already celebrated for its stability and cavernous cabin, this specific aircraft has been transformed into a true cross-country predator. It’s a machine designed to conquer the flight levels with the same ease it handles a local hop.
Propulsion is handled by a robust 300 hp Continental IO-550, but the real performance catalyst is the Whirlwind III turbo-normalizer system. This upgrade allows the engine to maintain sea-level power all the way into the thin air of the midteens, giving the pilot the flexibility to fly above the weather while maintaining impressive true airspeeds. To ensure longevity and thermal efficiency, the powerplant is equipped with a GAMI baffling system and precision GAMI fuel injectors.
Fuel stops become a rare necessity thanks to the addition of 20-gallon Osborne tip tanks, significantly boosting the aircraft’s total capacity and mission radius. This extended endurance is paired with a built-in six-place oxygen system, allowing the entire family to ride in comfort and safety during high-altitude transcontinental legs. For those tighter descents or busy terminal environments, the inclusion of precise speed brakes provides the pilot with professional-level energy management.
Occupants will find the legendary club seating configuration remains as functional as ever, complete with an executive writing desk and pilot/copilot sheepskin covers for long-range comfort. Safety is a priority throughout the cabin, featuring AmSafe airbag seat belts for the front.
On the ramp, the aircraft makes a striking impression with a white base and a sophisticated multicolor stripe scheme that has been fastidiously maintained since its application in 2007.
Listed at $399,995, this 1986 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza is a turnkey solution for the owner-pilot who refuses to compromise on speed, range, or utility.
If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza vs. Bonanza V-Tails
- FLYING Magazine: ABS Air Safety Foundation Announces the Best in Beechcraft Pilot Training
- FLYING Magazine: Beechcraft: A History
- FLYING Magazine: Finding Your Ideal Aircraft: Focus on the Mission, Especially When It Changes
- Plane + Pilot: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza
- Plane + Pilot: Beechcraft A36/A36TC/B36TC Bonanza
- Plane + Pilot: Bonanza in the 6th Decade
- The Aviation Consumer: Beechcraft Bonanza 36
- The Aviation Consumer: Six-Place Survey
