A pilot who has just bought into a straight-tail Bonanza spends the first few weeks learning the airplane’s rhythm: the landing gear switch, the propeller control, the fuel selector, and a cruise speed that delivers them to the traffic pattern sooner than anything they trained in.
The Model 33 line began as the Debonair, Beechcraft’s conventional-tail sibling of the V-tail Bonanza. Like every Bonanza it has retractable landing gear and a constant-speed propeller, which means more items to verify on every flight and a real cost when one gets missed. Pilots who land gear-up nearly always knew the gear was there; what failed was the habit of checking it.
That’s where a printed checklist written for the model earns a place in the side pocket. It doesn’t replace the POH or the airplane’s flight manual supplements, but it puts the sequence in front of you at the moments when workload is highest.
Quick answer: CheckMate Beechcraft Bonanza C Debonair E/F33 Checklist is a model-specific cockpit checklist for pilots who fly the Beechcraft Bonanza C Debonair E/F33. It suits owners and renters of 33-series Bonanzas, especially pilots moving up from fixed-gear airplanes who want the gear and prop items in a model-specific sequence. It’s offered as the original CheckMate, CheckMate+, the personalized CheckMate Pro and QuickMate, with the CheckMate versions in Standard and Compact sizes. It supplements, not replaces, the airplane’s POH/AFM, so confirm it matches your aircraft’s exact model, year, engine and handbook before relying on it. It’s available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
Formats and sizes
- CheckMate. The design that started it all, with the familiar legacy look, in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate+. Updated design language for better readability and safety, with passenger and crew briefing prompts, abort plan prompts and ATC communications prompts. It includes an instant low-res, black-and-white temporary digital download, and comes in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate Pro. A personalized version of CheckMate+. Add your tail number, name or phone number, your empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours; Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- QuickMate. A 5″ x 7″ plastic card with an abbreviated checklist for pilots who prefer minimalism. It keeps only the most critical information but retains all the V-speeds and emergency procedures from CheckMate.
Getting it ready for the cockpit
- Compare it with the POH/AFM. Read it side by side with your airplane’s handbook and check speeds, limitations and emergency procedures. Where they differ, the handbook wins.
- Match model, year and engine. Check the airplane’s registration and data plate, then confirm the checklist fits that model, year and engine, and any STCs installed.
- Build a gear-down habit. Use the before-landing section on every approach, practice approaches included, and confirm the gear indication against the checklist rather than memory alone.
- Read, then verify. Many pilots run a flow from memory and then read the checklist to verify. Whatever method you were taught, use it the same way each time.
Pilot tip: In a retractable, run the gear check at fixed points every time, for example on downwind abeam the numbers and again on short final. A checklist read at the same spots on every flight becomes a habit that holds up when the pattern gets busy.
More photos
Where to buy
CheckMate Beechcraft Bonanza C Debonair E/F33 Checklist is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price, shipping options and return terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the right checklist for a V-tail Bonanza?
No. This listing covers the straight-tail Model 33 line named in its title. V-tail 35-series Bonanzas have their own CheckMate listings, such as the G35 and the V35/V35A/V35B.
Does this checklist replace the POH?
No. It supplements the airplane’s POH/AFM, which remains the authority for procedures, limitations and performance. Confirm the checklist matches your aircraft’s exact model, year, engine and handbook.
What’s the difference between Standard and Compact?
Standard is 6.5″ x 9″ and Compact is 5″ x 7″. Compact suits smaller kneeboards and tight cockpits; Standard gives the print more room.
