A line of Bonanzas representing all 60 years of the type taxi toward their group parking spot in the North 40 Aircraft Campground during the 18th annual Bonanzas to Oshkosh migration. Photo by Dave Higdon

Under cloudless blue skies, more than 100 Beechcraft Bonanzas arrived at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 Saturday afternoon in the annual Bonanzas to Oshkosh (B2Osh) group flight. This year’s mass arrival—kicking off celebration of the venerable aircraft’s 60th anniversary—included examples of almost all the 40 Bonanza models built, from a 1947 Model 35 Bonanza, the first year of production, to a 2007 anniversary edition G36 Bonanza, with Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO Jim Schuster aboard.

"There is no better way to arrive in Oshkosh than this," said Schuster, shortly after landing. "You arrive with 100-plus Bonanzas all at once, and it gives you goose bumps. It is an absolute thrill."

As in previous years, the Bonanzas gathered in Rockford, Illinois, for the group flight. During the preceding year, all pilots must demonstrate formation flying proficiency before participating, and organizers host formation flying flight clinics around the country to help pilots prepare.

"The quality of the flight in terms of skills of formation flying is getting better and better every year," said Larry Gaines, who served as this year’s flight leader in his 1958 J Model Bonanza. "I think this is the best year."

Just as the Bonanza has been a trend-setting aircraft, the B2Osh flight has served as the model for group arrivals to AirVenture staged by Mooney, Cessna, and Piper owners. B2Osh organizers have been generous in sharing their knowledge and advice with these groups.

In an era of composite construction and high-tech innovation, what accounts for the enduring appeal of the Bonanza?

"Its flight characteristics," said Wade McNabb, CEO of the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee, which owns the 1947 Model 35. "It was very innovative for its day. Beech[craft] learned a lot during World War II in making metal aircraft. It’s very fast, very maneuverable, and has very good handling characteristics."

"You can go anywhere in the world you want to go in a Bonanza," said Wayne Collins of Mineola, Texas, who organized the first B2Osh flight in 1990, and has put about 7,000 hours on his 1972 V-tail Bonanza, flying it around the world.

For anyone wishing to see what may be the world’s largest collection of Bonanzas and talk to owners about the aircraft, the B2Osh group is camped on Rows 536-538 in the North 40 aircraft camping area, and another 200 or so Bonanzas are parked in the immediate vicinity.

In addition to the Bonanza birthday, this year also marks the 75th anniversary of Beechcraft, the Wichita-based aircraft manufacturer. Static and flight displays of the company’s airplanes will be featured throughout AirVenture in honor of the milestone. Today, an extensive exhibition of the company’s aircraft are on display at AeroShell Square, including a Premier 1A business jet, King Air 350, King Air B200, King Air C90GT turboprops, the twin-engine Baron G58, and a variety of Bonanzas.

Beechcraft models also are being showcased at the Vintage and Warbird display areas, and old and new Beechcrafts will be featured in flight displays during the air shows and showcase flybys throughout the week.

The celebration also marks a return to Beechcraft’s roots. After several years operating as Raytheon Aircraft as part of the Raytheon Company, this year the aircraft maker was spun off and reclaimed its name, becoming Hawker Beechcraft.

"I don’t think it could be more fitting to bring back the Hawker and Beechcraft names in this anniversary year," said Schuster. "I’m hoping we can restore much of what made this such a great company during the years it was known as Beechcraft."