Beechcraft Duchess 76

Piston twin engine • Low Wing • Retractable gear

Range Map

Origin:

• nm at current load

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Payload vs. Range

Configure weights

Occupants

lb + lbs / pax

Select payload

gal

Fuel on board

lbs

Extra weight

Range

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.

Fuel capacity reduced by gallons ( gal usable for nm range).

Over max gross weight. Reduce payload by lbs to safely operate this aircraft.

Extra weight is the additional payload available with your selected passengers.

Mission Profile

Used market

158

KTAS

Cruise Speed

780

Max Range

19,650

Service Ceiling

Occupants

870

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

Complex
Multi-Engine

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Beechcraft Duchess 76

Type certificated 1978 Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet

Overview

The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess is a four-seat, twin-engine trainer that Beech built from 1978 to 1982 to compete with the Piper Seminole in the multi-engine training market. It pairs counter-rotating 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engines with a T-tail and a bonded honeycomb wing, and flight schools adopted it for the light control forces and predictable single-engine handling that suit the multi-engine and commercial ratings.

The Duchess fits a buyer who wants an affordable way into twin ownership: a working multi-engine trainer for a flight school, or a first twin for a pilot building time toward the ratings. Beech ended production after 437 airframes, so the fleet is small and parts run dearer than for the still-produced Seminole, and the bonded wing costs more to repair than a riveted skin if it is damaged. For the school or the time-builder who can work with that, it is an approachable and inexpensive twin.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Counter-rotating propellers. The left O-360-A1G6D and right LO-360-A1G6D turn in opposite directions, so there is no critical engine and single-engine handling is symmetric.
Dual cabin doors. A door on each side, uncommon in this class, eases cabin access.
Predictable handling. Light control forces and stable low-speed behavior make it a steady platform for ab-initio multi-engine training.
Bonded wing. The honeycomb-bonded wet wing gives a clean aerodynamic surface with few rivets.

Trade-offs

Single-engine climb. With one engine out at sea level the Duchess climbs about 235 fpm, a thin margin that shrinks further with weight and density altitude. It is built to teach engine-out procedure, not to carry a load across high terrain on one engine.
T-tail pitch authority. The T-tail holds the elevator out of the propeller wash, so pitch authority is lower at low speed. Rotation takes a deliberate pull and the landing flare takes attention to avoid a nosewheel-first touchdown.
Orphan fleet. With 437 built and production ended in 1982, parts and type-specific knowledge are harder to find than for the Seminole, and the bonded wing is costlier to repair than a riveted one.
Modest cruise. At about 158 knots it cruises with the trainer-twin class, below the faster cabin twins a step up.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 9.5 ft
Length: 29.08 ft
Parking area (ft²): 1635.84 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 3,900 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 3,900 lbs
Useful Load: 1,470 lbs
Fuel Capacity: Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook / Aircraft Flight Manual 100 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: 158 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook / Aircraft Flight Manual 194 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook / Aircraft Flight Manual 154 KIAS
Approach Speed: 85 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook / Aircraft Flight Manual 70 KIAS
Range: 780 NM
Service Ceiling: 19,650 ft
Rate of Climb: 235 - 1248 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 2,119 ft
Landing ground roll: 1,881 ft

Engines

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Beechcraft Duchess 76 specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.