Beech 76 Duchess
Piston • twin engine • Low Wing • Retractable gear
Range Visualization
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Payload vs. Range
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Default: 190 lbs (FAA standard)
Default: 30 lbs
Passengers
lbs
@ lbs / pax
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Fuel on board
gal
+ Weight
Range
Available Range
/ nm
Mission capable —
Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.
Fuel tradeoff required —
You'll need to leave gallons of fuel behind
( gal usable for nm range).
Over max gross weight —
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Mission Profile
158
KTAS
Cruise Speed
4
Occupants
780
nm
Max Range
870
lbs
Wet Payload
About the Beech 76 Duchess
The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess is a four-seat, twin-engine training aircraft developed to compete with the Piper Seminole. Distinguished by its T-tail and bonded wing construction (a smoother surface with fewer rivets than competitors), it is widely regarded as one of the most docile multi-engine trainers ever built.
Key Features for GA Buyers
- Counter-Rotating Propellers: Like the Seminole, the Duchess features counter-rotating Lycoming O-360 engines, which eliminate the “critical engine” phenomenon. This simplifies single-engine aerodynamics and improves safety during training.
- Cabin Visibility: The Duchess is noted for its excellent visibility and dual entry doors (one on each side), a luxury rarely found in this class of aircraft.
- Bonded Wing: The wet-wing fuel storage and honeycomb-bonded construction provide a clean aerodynamic surface, though it can be more expensive to repair if damaged compared to traditional riveted skins.
Trade-offs
- T-Tail Handling: The T-tail design places the elevator out of the propeller slipstream. This results in a lack of elevator authority at low speeds, requiring a larger rotation force on takeoff and careful pitch management during the landing flare to avoid a hard nose-wheel arrival.
- Performance: With a single-engine climb rate of only ~235 fpm at sea level, the Duchess has very limited safety margins if an engine fails shortly after takeoff, particularly at high density altitudes.
- Door Latches: The door latch mechanism is a known weak point; if not properly secured, doors can pop open in flight (though the aircraft remains flyable).
Technical Specifications
Dimensions
- Wingspan
- 38.0 ft
- Length
- 29.08 ft
- Height
- 9.5 ft
Weights
- Max Takeoff Weight
- 3,900 lbs
- Max Landing Weight
- 3,900 lbs
- Useful Load
- 1,470 lbs
- Fuel Capacity
- 100 gal
Performance
- Cruise Speed
- 158 KTAS
- Range
- 780 NM
- Service Ceiling
- 19,650 ft
- Rate of Climb
- 1248 fpm
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