STC MOD FACT SHEET
Beechcraft Extra-Thick Windshields |
| Models: | All Late-Model Beechcraft Bonanza, Baron, and Travelair Aircraft. |
| Purpose: | Increases Windshield Thickness for a quieter cabin and greater impact resistance. Available in 5/16″ (.312″), 3/8″ (.375″), and 1/2″ (.500″) thicknesses. |
- Models / Part Numbers: Bonanza / Baron / Travelair –
| E33 | (S/N CD-1119 Through CD-1234) | P/N 269.312 |
| E33A | (S/N CE-180 Through CE-289) | 269.375 |
| E33C | (S/N CJ-1 Through CJ-25) | 269.500 |
| F33 | (S/N CD-1235 Through CD-1254) | (Apply to all aircraft listed) |
| G33 | (S/N CE-1255 Through CD-1304) | |
| F33A | (S/N CE-290 and Up) | |
| F33C | (S/N CJ26 and Up) | |
| V35A | (S/N D-8599 Through D-9068) | |
| V35B | (S/N D9069 and Up) | |
| 36 | (S/N E-1 Through E-184) | |
| A36 | (S/N E-185 and Up) | |
| A36TC | (S/N EA-1 Through EA-241, | |
| …EA-243 Through EA-272) | ||
| B36TC | (S/N EA-242, EA-273 and Up) | |
| 95-B55 & | (S/N TC-1043 and Up) | |
| …95-B55A | ||
| D-55 & D55A | (S/N TE-452 Through TE-767) | |
| E55 & E55A | (TE-768 and Up) | |
| A56TC | (TG-84 Though TG-94) | |
| 58 & 58A | (S/N TH-1 and Up) | |
| 58TC & | (S/N TK-1 and Up) | |
| …58TCA | ||
| E95 | (TD-708 Through TD-721) |
The Original Design: Beechcraft mounts windshields for the Bonanza/Baron series aircraft inmetal frames and the windshields and frames are supplied by Beech as assemblies. This is a very good mounting system as no holes need to be drilled through the windshield itself for mounting. It fits in the channel of the frame and is allowed to “float,” allowing for expansion and contraction.Beechcraft windshields list for up to $2,800.00, depending on tint, and are supplied only in 1/4″ thickness.
The LP Aero Plastics, Inc. Mod: A windshield thicker than the original 1/4″ (.250″) thickness
will not fit in the frame channel, so the LP Aero Plastics Extra-Thick windshields are milled on the inside
edge to fit the frame (see Fig. 1). This allows the thicker windshield to appear identical to the original and
still retain Beechcraft’s superior mounting method, while providing a quieter cabin and greater impact resistance.
The LP Aero Windshields are available in the standard 1/4″ (.250″) thickness as an FAA-PMA replacement part,
or in 5/16″ (.312″), 3/8″ (.375″), and 1/2″ (.500″) Extra-Thick versions as STC modifications. The 1/4″ part number
is LP-269, and the STC Extra-Thick windshields add the thickness as a suffix to the part number, i.e., LP-269.500
(1/2″). To dramatically reduce costs, LP Aero Plastics supplies only the acrylic windshield, as the existing frame is reusable.
Competitive Information: Beryl D’Shannon Aviation Specialties, Inc. has been manufacturing thicker windshields
for the Bonanza/Baron for many years. However, this windshield design discards the original metal frame and requires
many holes to be drilled through the windshield itself for mounting (see Fig. 2). These many mounting holes are notorious
crack starters. We believe the original Beech-engineered frame-mount system is superior because it eliminates stress at the
mount holes (there are no mount holes). See the STC MOD FACT SHEET for Extra-Thick Windshields for Beryl
D’Shannon converted aircraft.
Great Lakes Aero Products, Inc. also manufactures thicker windshields for these aircraft, and actually mounts the
windshields in the original frame, but with one large difference. Great Lakes mills the windshield on the outside edge,
thereby allowing the extra thickness to protrude outward, where it is quite noticeable (see Fig. 3). Again, LP Aero
Plastics mills the inside edge, allowing the extra thickness of the windshield to be on the inside of the aircraft, where it is
not obtrusive.
Options Available: Thicknesses from 1/4″ (.250″) to 1/2″ (.500″). As with all LP Aero Plastics Windshields
and Windows, Clear, Green, and Solar Gray tints are available.
