Current Orders To Be Fulfilled As Support Will Continue

Textron Aviation has confirmed it will be ending production of two of its most recognizable piston aircraft, the Beechcraft Bonanza G36 and Baron G58, after nearly 80 years of continuous manufacturing of the venerable models. The company is moving toward new products such as the Beechcraft Denali, but will continue to support the thousands of Barons and Bonanzas currently flying worldwide.

The announcement brings to an end one of the longest production runs in the history of aviation. The first flight of the Bonanza was in December 1945 and production began in 1947. More than 26,000 Bonanza-family aircraft were built, including the V-tail and straight-tail models as well as Debonairs and the Baron line, according to the American Bonanza Society.

Textron said more than 3,000 Barons and 18,000 Bonanzas have been delivered, but the actual total is higher if early production series are included.

The cessation of production was not entirely surprising as deliveries of both models have trailed the market for years. GAMA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, said the company delivered just five Bonanzas and two Barons in 2024, and four Bonanzas and two Barons in the first half of 2025. Those numbers place the airplanes among the lowest-selling certified piston models in continuous production.

Another factor in Textron’s decision was the shift in the piston market, as Cirrus (despite that company's many faults) and Diamond have led sales in the high-performance segment for twenty years. In the meantime, the market shares of legacy piston retractable-gear singles and twins have dropped as newer buyers are preferring composite airframes and lower-cost operations. This has the Bonanza and Baron to compete in a niche that is shrinking, despite their excellent reputation for build quality and handling characteristics.

Textron says it will concentrate on the Denali, which will be the foundation of its single-engine product line after certification is completed.

FMI:  txtav.com/