Beech 23 Sundowner vs Beech 24 Sierra
Side-by-side specs, range, and real operating costs for up to 5 aircraft.
Mission Performance
Tap to isolateValues normalised across compared aircraft. Fuel Economy is inverted (lower burn = higher score). See table below for raw figures.
Mission Performance Details
| Metric | Beech 23 Sundowner Beechcraft | Beech 24 Sierra Beechcraft |
|---|---|---|
| Stall Speed | 61 kts | 65 kts |
| Approach Speed | 68 kts | 75 kts |
| Cruise Speed | 118 kts | 131 kts |
| Range | 565 nm | 647 nm |
| Service Ceiling | 12,600 ft | 14,350 ft |
| Rate of Climb | 792 fpm | 891 fpm |
| Fuel Burn | 9.0 gph | 10.5 gph |
Flight Profile
Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.
Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.
Fuel Burn
Based on published cruise fuel flow
| Metric | Beech 23 Sundowner Beechcraft | Beech 24 Sierra Beechcraft |
|---|---|---|
| Burn Rate |
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| Trip Fuel |
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| Trip Cost |
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| Cost / hr |
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: trip distance exceeds published range.
Trip time estimated from published cruise speed and distance. Fuel burn is a published cruise figure; actual consumption varies with altitude, loading, and conditions.
Runway Performance
Density altitude adjusted estimates
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle
Landing ground roll
FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.
Estimated Operating Costs
| Metric | Beech 23 Sundowner Beechcraft | Beech 24 Sierra Beechcraft |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Cost per hour | $58/hr | $68/hr |
| Direct Operating Cost per hour | $105/hr | $146/hr |
| Annual Fixed Costs | ||
| Insurance | $1,250/yr | $1,800/yr |
| Hangar | $3,795/yr | $3,795/yr |
| Annual Inspection | $2,500/yr | $2,070/yr |
| Total Fixed | $7,545/yr | $7,665/yr |
Estimates only. Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.
Capability, Limits & Dimensions
| Metric | Beech 23 Sundowner Beechcraft | Beech 24 Sierra Beechcraft |
|---|---|---|
| Useful Load | 956 lbs | 1,054 lbs |
| MTOW | 2,450 lbs | 2,750 lbs |
| Seating | 4 | 4 |
| Fuel Capacity | 60 gal | 57 gal |
| Engines | 1× Piston | 1× Piston |
| Landing Gear | Fixed | Retractable |
| Pressurized | No | No |
| Dimensions | ||
| Wingspan | 32.8 ft | 32.8 ft |
| Length | 25.8 ft | 25.8 ft |
| Tail Height | 8.2 ft | 8.4 ft |
Payload-Range Map
Origin: · click map to move