How I Bought a Bonanza as a Student Pilot

In September 2025, I bought a 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza. I did not have my private pilot certificate. I had a student pilot certificate, a stack of ground school material, and a firm belief that the right way to learn to fly was in the actual airplane I intended to own.

This is the post I wish existed when I was searching Google for “buying an airplane as a student pilot.” The short answer: it is possible, it is not easy, and it is one of the best decisions I have made.

Why a Bonanza

I knew from the start that I did not want a trainer. I wanted a real cross-country airplane — something that could cruise at 170 knots, fly IFR, carry passengers comfortably, and serve as a real tool rather than just a learning toy. The Bonanza checked every box. The S35 specifically — the V-tail model — has a following, strong parts support, and a reputation for being both demanding and rewarding.

Finding N2015W

I spent three months searching Controller.com, Trade-A-Plane, and various Bonanza owner groups before finding N2015W. The engine time — 1,267 hours SNEW on an IO-520-BB6B — was the deciding factor. The prop was new. The avionics were modern: Aspen EFD 1000, Garmin GNS 430W, GTX 345 ADS-B, S-TEC 50 autopilot. It was a clean airplane with good bones.

The Pre-Buy

I hired an independent IA who specializes in Beechcraft to do the pre-buy inspection. This is non-negotiable. The pre-buy on a vintage Bonanza takes a full day and should cover every system. It will find things. The question is whether those things are deal-breakers or negotiating points. On N2015W, the findings were manageable. We closed in September 2025.

More detailed posts on the financing process, the title search, and the LLC structure coming soon. Subscribe to follow along.