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Jerry Siebenmark

In a nod to the Beechcraft Bonanza’s upcoming 75th anniversary, Textron Aviation will offer a special-edition Bonanza G36 option featuring a custom interior and paint scheme, the airframer announced on Tuesday. The order book has been opened for the special-edition option, priced at $18,000, which will be available for delivery in 2022, the piston single’s milestone year.
“The formula for the Beechcraft Bonanza’s longevity involves an ageless style and utility, a passionate legion of owners and aspiring owners, and a seven-decade commitment by company engineers to continuously refine and update features to meet customer, technology, regulatory, and environmental needs,” said Textron Aviation senior v-p of global sales and flight operations Lannie O’Bannion.
Bonanza deliveries began 15&nbsp;years after Walter and Olive Ann Beech started Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas and&nbsp;the company and its successors have since produced more than 18,000. Following Walter’s death,&nbsp;Olive Ann became president&nbsp;and led the company until 1982.

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<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">The "Mrs. Beech Blue" accents are continued in the cabin of the 75th anniversary Beechcraft Bonanza G36. (Image: Textron Aviation)</figcaption>
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The limited-edition Bonanza features a custom color adopted by Olive Ann—on the advice of fashion designer Oleg Cassini—known as “Mrs. Beech Blue,” which was found on her dress suits, office furnishings, automobile, and personal aircraft interiors, according to Textron Aviation, which is exhibiting at this week's Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In &amp; Expo.
The color has been applied to the airplane’s livery, interior window panels, carpet, and accents. It also features a “Bubble B” logo from 1954 on the carpeted entry and Olive Ann’s signature on a metal piece above the cabin table and as an exterior graphic below the pilot window. Capping off the&nbsp;special features are seat upholstery lines and sidewall and table contours that are intended to complement the retro color palette.&nbsp;

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