Similarly to the Model 35 Bonanza, the Model 50 was advanced for its day, but the Model 50 was a twin-engined design, with a conventional tail and excellent range and altitude performance. It shared the Model 35's all-metal construction and retractable undercarriage. Sales of this larger type would clearly be lower than the Bonanza, therefore Beech aimed the design at both civil and military applications. The economics of taking up a type already in civilian service were attractive to the US Army, which designated it the L-23 (later U-8).