Beechcraft Model 18

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat,^[1] twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.^[2][3][4]

Model 18
A Model 18 over Little Gransden Airfield in 2019
Role	Trainer, transport aircraft and utility aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Beech Aircraft Corporation
First flight	January 15, 1937
Introduction	1937
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces United States Navy Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
Produced	1937–1970
Number built	9,000+

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service—as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones—including United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft.^[2][3][5]

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. Many are privately owned, around the world, with 240 in the U.S. still on the FAA Aircraft Registry in August 2017.^[2][4][6][7]

Design and development

 

Beech 18 on floats in Manitoba, 1986

 

Beechcraft AT-11 over the West Texas prairies, around 1944

 

Private Beech H18 with the optional tricycle undercarriage visiting Lannion, France

By the late 1930s, Beechcraft management speculated that a demand would exist for a new design dubbed the Model 18, which would have a military application, and increased the main production facilities. The design was mainly conventional for the time, including twin radial engines, all-metal semimonocoque construction with fabric-covered control surfaces, and tailwheel undercarriage. Less conventional was the twin-tailfin configuration. The Model 18 can be mistaken for the larger Lockheed Electra series of airliners, which closely resemble it. Early production aircraft were powered either by two 330-hp (250-kW) Jacobs L-6s or 350-hp (260-kW) Wright R-760Es. The 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 became the definitive engine from the prewar C18S onwards. The Beech 18 prototype first flew on January 15, 1937.

The aircraft has used a variety of engines and has had a number of airframe modifications to increase gross weight and speed. At least one aircraft was modified to a 600-hp (447-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 powerplant configuration. With the added weight of about 200 lb (91 kg) per engine, the concept of a Model 18 fitted with R-1340 engines was deemed unsatisfactory due to the weakest structural area of the aircraft being the engine mounts. Nearly every airframe component has been modified.

In 1955, deliveries of the Model E18S commenced; the E18S featured a fuselage that was extended 6 in (150 mm) higher for more headroom in the passenger cabin. All later Beech 18s (sometimes called Super 18s) featured this taller fuselage, and some earlier models (including one AT-11) have been modified to this larger fuselage. The Model H18, introduced in 1963, featured optional tricycle undercarriage. Unusually, the undercarriage was developed for earlier-model aircraft under an STC by Volpar, and installed in H18s at the factory during manufacture. A total of 109 H18s was built with tricycle undercarriage, and another 240 earlier-model aircraft were modified with this.^[8][9]

Construction of the Beechcraft Model 18 ended in 1970 with a final Model H18 going to Japan Airlines.^{[citation needed]} Through the years, 32 variations of the basic design had flown, over 200 improvement modification kits were developed, and almost 8,000 aircraft were built. In one case, the aircraft was modified to a triple tail, trigear, humpbacked configuration and appeared similar to a miniature Lockheed Constellation. Another distinctive conversion was carried out by Pacific Airmotive as the PacAero Tradewind. This featured a lengthened nose to accommodate the tricycle nosewheel, and the Model 18's twin tailfins were replaced by a single fin.^[10]

Operational history

 

Beechcraft 18 on floats

Production got an early boost when Nationalist China paid the company US$750,000 for six M18R light bombers,^[11] but by the time of the U.S. entry into World War II, only 39 Model 18s had been sold, of which 29 were for civilian customers.^[8][12] Work began in earnest on a variant specifically for training United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) military pilots, bombardiers, and navigators. The effort resulted in the Army AT-7. Further development led to the AT-11 navigation trainer, C-45 military transport, and F-2 (the "F" standing for "Fotorecon", short for "photographic reconnaissance"). The United States Navy first adopted the Beech 18 as the JRB-1, equivalent to the F-2, followed by the JRB-2 transport; the JRB was initially named the Voyager, but this name did not enter common use, and JRBs were generally called Expeditors like their USAAF counterparts.^[13] The first JRB-1 obtained by the Navy, bureau number (BuNo) 09771, was converted from the last civil Model 18 built before production was earmarked solely for the military for the duration of the war.^[14] The Navy subsequently obtained more Model 18s as the JRB-3 (C-45B), JRB-4 (UC-45F), SNB-1 Kansan (AT-11), SNB-2 (AT-7), and SNB-2C (AT-7C).^[15] Existing naval Twin Beeches were subsequently modified into the SNB-2H air ambulance, SNB-2P reconnaissance trainer, and SNB-3Q electronic countermeasures trainer.^[16] The United States Coast Guard acquired seven JRB-4 and JRB-5 aircraft from the Navy between 1943 and 1947; they were primarily used as utility transports, with one aircraft later converted for aerial mapping, and another used for proficiency flying.^[17][18]

After the war, the USAAF became the United States Air Force (USAF), and the USAF Strategic Air Command had Model 18 variants (AT-11 Kansans, C-45 Expeditors, F-2 Expeditors, and UC-45 Expeditors) from 1946 until 1951. In 1950, the Navy still had around 1,200 JRB and SNB aircraft in inventory.^[16] From 1951 to 1955, the USAF had many of its aircraft remanufactured with new fuselages, wing center sections, and undercarriages to take advantage of the improvements to the civil models since the end of World War II. Eventually, 900 aircraft were remanufactured to be similar to the then-current Model D18S and given new designations, constructor's numbers, and Air Force serial numbers.^[19] The USN had many of its surviving aircraft remanufactured as well, resulting in the JRB-6, the SNB-5, and SNB-5P.^[20] The Coast Guard retired its JRBs in 1956 and sold most of them as surplus in 1959, but one was retained by the United States Coast Guard Reserve until at least 1972.^[17][18] With the adoption of the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, the Navy's SNB-5 and SNB-5P became the TC-45J and RC-45J respectively, later becoming the UC-45J as their primary mission shifted from aircrew training to utility transport work.^[21] The C-45 flew in USAF service until 1963, the USN retired its last UC-45J in 1972, while the U.S. Army flew its C-45s until 1976. In later years, the military called these aircraft "bug smashers" in reference to their extensive use supplying mandatory flight hours for desk-bound aviators in the Pentagon.^[22]

Beech 18s were used extensively by Air America during the Vietnam War; initially more-or-less standard ex-military C-45 examples were used, but then the airline had 12 aircraft modified by Conrad Conversions in 1963 and 1964 to increase performance and load-carrying capacity. The modified aircraft were known as Conrad Ten-Twos, as the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) was increased to 10,200 lb (4,600 kg).^[23][24] The increase was achieved by several airframe modifications, including increased horizontal stabilizer angle-of-incidence, redesigned undercarriage doors, and aerodynamically improved wingtips. Air America then had Volpar convert 14 aircraft to turboprop power, fitted with Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines; modified aircraft were called Volpar Turbo Beeches, and also had a further increase in MTOW to 10,286 lb (4,666 kg).^[23]

Spar problems

The wing spar of the Model 18 was fabricated by welding an assembly of tubular steel. The configuration of the tubes in combination with drilled holes from aftermarket STC modifications on some of these aircraft have allowed the spar to become susceptible to corrosion and cracking while in service.^[25] This prompted the FAA to issue an Airworthiness Directive in 1975, mandating the fitting of a spar strap to some Model 18s. This led, in turn, to the retirement of a large number of STC-modified Model 18s when owners determined the aircraft were worth less than the cost of the modifications. The corrosion on unmodified spars was not a problem; it occurred due to the additional exposed surface area created through the STC hole-drilling process. Further requirements have been mandated by the FAA and other national airworthiness authorities, including regular removal of the spar strap to allow the strap to be checked for cracks and corrosion and the spar to be X-rayed. In Australia, the airworthiness authority has placed a life limit on the airframe, beyond which aircraft are not allowed to fly.^[26][27][28]

Variants

Manufacturer models

Unless otherwise noted, the engines fitted are Pratt & Whitney R-985 radials.

Model 18A

First production model with seating for two pilots and seven or eight passengers, fitted with Wright R-760E-2 engines of 350 horsepower (260 kW), MTOW: 6,700 lb (3,000 kg)^[29][30] Four built.^[31]

• Model S18A

Version of Model 18A capable of being fitted with skis or Edo 55-7170 floats; MTOW: 7,200 lb (3,300 kg)^[30]

Model A18A

Version fitted with Wright R-760E-2 engines, MTOW: 7,500 lb (3,400 kg)^[32]

• Model SA18A

Seaplane version of Model A18A, MTOW: 7,170 lb (3,250 kg)^[32]

Model 18B

Version powered with 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5 engines. Four built.^[33][31]

• Model S18B

Version of Model 18B capable of being fitted with skis or floats.

Model 18D

Variant with seating for two pilots and nine passengers, fitted with Jacobs L-6 engines of 330 horsepower (250 kW), MTOW: 7,200 lb (3,300 kg).^[32] Twelve aircraft built.^[31]

• Model S18D

Version of Model 18D capable of being fitted with skis or Edo 55-7170 floats^{[citation needed]}, MTOW: 7,170 lb (3,250 kg)^{[12][failed verification][32]}

Model A18D

Variant of 18D with MTOW increased by 300 lb (140 kg) to 7,500 lb (3,400 kg).^[32]

• Model SA18D

Seaplane version of Model A18D, but same MTOW as S18D.^[32]

Model 18R

Model with Pratt and Whitney R-985-A1 engines with dual-stage blower for increased power at higher operating altitudes^{[citation needed]}, 420 horsepower (310 kW), seven built, one to Sweden as an air ambulance, six to Nationalist China as M18R light bombers^[11][31]

Model 18S

Nine-passenger pre-World War II civil variant, powered by 450 hp (340 kW) served as basis for USAAF C-45C^[1]

Model B18S

Nine-passenger pre-World War II civil variant, served as basis for USAAF F-2^[1]

Model C18S

Variant of B18S with seating for eight passengers, and equipment and minor structural changes^[34]

Model D18S

First post-World War II variant introduced in 1945, with seating for eight passengers and MTOW of 8,750 lb (3,970 kg), 1,035 built^[35][36]

Model D18C

Variant with Continental R9-A engines of 525 horsepower (391 kW) and MTOW of 9,000 lb (4,100 kg), introduced in 1947, 31 built.^[35][37]

Model E18S

 

A 3-view line drawing of a Model E18S

Variant with redesigned wing and MTOW of 9,300 lb (4,200 kg); 403 built^[35]

Model E18S-9700

Variant of E18S with MTOW of 9,700 lb (4,400 kg); 57 built^[35]

Model G18S

 

A Model G18S arriving at the 2016 RIAT, England

Superseded E18S, MTOW of 9,700 lb (4,400 kg); 155 built^[35][36]

Model G18S-9150

Lightweight version of G18, MTOW of 9,150 lb (4,150 kg); one built^[35][36]

Model H18

Last production version, fitted with optional tricycle undercarriage developed by Volpar and MTOW of 9,900 lb (4,500 kg); 149 built, of which 109 were manufactured with tricycle undercarriage^[8][35][36]

Military versions

USAAC/USAAF designations

C-45

Six-seat staff transport based on C18S;^[34] 11 built^[38][39]

C-45A

Eight-seat utility transport based on C18S;^[34] 20 built^[38]

RC-45A

Redesignation of all surviving F-2, F-2A, and F-2B aircraft by the USAF in 1948

C-45B

Based on C18S, but with modified internal layout; 223 ordered, redesignated UC-45B in 1943^[34][39] Equipped with a hatch in the cabin door for aerial photography.^[40]

C-45C

Two Model 18S aircraft impressed into the USAAF, redesignated UC-45C in January 1943^[1][29][41]

C-45D

Designation given to two AT-7 aircraft converted as passenger transports during manufacture, redesignated UC-45D in January 1943^[41][42]

 

C-45F at the Barksdale Global Power Museum

 

C-45H/AT-7 CAF, Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, Colorado, June 2007

 

A cutaway view of a C-45H

C-45E

Designation given to two AT-7 and four AT-7B aircraft converted as passenger transports during manufacture, redesignated UC-45E in January 1943^[41][42]

C-45F

Standardized seven-seat version based on C18S, with longer nose than preceding models;^[34] 1,137 ordered, redesignated UC-45F^[39]

C-45G

AT-7s and AT-11s remanufactured in the early 1950s for the USAF to similar standard as civil D18S with autopilot and R-985-AN-3 engines; 372 aircraft rebuilt^[19][43]

TC-45G

Multiengine crew trainer variant of C-45G; AT-7s and AT-11s remanufactured in the early 1950s for the USAF to similar standard as civil D18S, 96 aircraft rebuilt^[19][43]

C-45H

AT-7s and AT-11s remanufactured in the early 1950s for the USAF to similar standard as civil D18S, with no autopilot and R-985-AN-14B engines; 432 aircraft rebuilt^[19][44]

TC-45H ^[35]

RC-45J ^[35]

In 1962, all surviving U.S. Navy SNB-5Ps were redesignated RC-45J^[21]

TC-45J ^[35]

In 1962 all surviving U.S. Navy SNB-5s were redesignated TC-45J^[21]

UC-45J ^[35]

Subsequent redesignation of RC-45J and TC-45J^[21]

 

AT-11 at the Barksdale Global Power Museum

 

A 3-view line drawing of an AT-11

AT-7 Navigator

Navigation trainer based on C18S,^[34] with an astrodome and positions for three students, powered by 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-25 engines; 577 built^[38][39]

AT-7A

Floatplane version of AT-7; six built^[38]

AT-7B

Winterised AT-7; nine built^[38]

AT-7C

Based on C18S^[34] with R-985-AN3 engines; 549 built^[38]

AT-11 Kansan

Bombing and gunnery trainer for USAAF derived from AT-7, fuselage had small, circular cabin windows, bombardier position in nose, and bomb bay; gunnery trainers were also fitted with two or three .30-caliber machine guns, early models (the first 150 built) had a single .30-cal AN-M2 in a Beechcraft-manufactured top turret, later models used a Crocker Wheeler twin .30-cal top turret, a bottom tunnel gun was used for tail gunner training, 1,582 built for USAAF orders, with 24 ordered by Netherlands repossessed by USAAF and used by the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson, Mississippi.^[45][46]

AT-11A

Conversion of AT-11 as navigation trainer; 36 converted^[46]

CQ-3

Conversion of UC-45F, modified to act as drone control aircraft, redesignated as DC-45F in June 1948^{[citation needed]}

 

F-2s in Alaska, 1941

F-2

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B18^[1]

F-2A

Improved version

F-2B

US Navy designations

 

SNB-1 Kansan

 

SNB-2 Navigator

JRB-1

Photographic aircraft, based on the C18S,^[34] fitted with fairing over cockpit for improved visibility, 11 obtained,^[47] at least one conversion from impressed civil B18S^[14]

JRB-2

Light transport, based on the C18S;^[34] 15 obtained,^[47] at least one conversion from JRB-1,^[48] some transferred from USAAF C-45A stocks^[49]

JRB-3

Photographic version, similar to C-45B; 23 obtained,^[47] some transferred from USAAF C-45B stocks^[50]

JRB-4

Utility transport version, equivalent to UC-45F;^[13] 328 obtained from USAAF^{[51][52][50][53]}

JRB-6

Remanufactured JRB^[21]

SNB-1

Similar to AT-11;^[16] 110 built^[53]

SNB-2

Navigation trainer similar to AT-7,^[16] 299 built^[53]

SNB-2C

Navigation trainer similar to AT-7C,^[16] 375 built^[53]

SNB-2H

Ambulance conversion^[16]

SNB-2P

Photo-reconnaissance trainer conversion^[16]

SNB-3Q

Electronic countermeasures trainer conversion^[16]

SNB-5 ^[35]

Remanufactured SNB^[21][52] or JRB^[54]

SNB-5P ^[35]

Remanufactured SNB-2P^[21]

RAF/RCAF Lend-lease designations

Expeditor I

C-45Bs supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease

Expeditor II

C-45Fs supplied to the RAF and Royal Navy under Lend-Lease

Expeditor III

C-45Fs supplied to the RCAF under Lend-Lease

Post-war RCAF designations

C-45Ds delivered between 1951 and 1952^[55]

Expeditor 3N

navigation trainer - 88 built^[56]

Expeditor 3NM

navigational trainer that could be converted to a transport - 59 built^[57]

Expeditor 3NMT

3NM converted to a transport aircraft - 67 built^[58]

Expeditor 3NMT(Special)

navigation trainer/personnel transport - 19 built^[59]

Expeditor 3TM

transport with fittings so it could be converted to a navigation trainer - 44 built^[56]

Expeditor 3TM(Special)

modified RCAF Expeditors used overseas in conjunction with Project WPB6 - three built^[60]

Canadian Armed Forces

CT-128 Expeditor

1968 redesignation of existing RCAF aircraft upon unification of the Canadian Armed Forces

Conversions

 

PacAero Tradewind

Conrad 9800

Modification increasing the gross weight to 9,800 pounds with a single piece windshield ^[61]

Dumod I

Executive conversion with Volpar tricycle landing gear, new wing tips, enlarged fight deck and refurbished 6–7 seat cabin with larger windows. Originally named Infinité I. 37 converted by 1966.^[62]

Dumod Liner

Stretched airliner conversion. Similar to Dumod I but with forward fuselage stretched by 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), allowing up to 15 passengers to be carried. Originally named Infinité II.^[62]

Hamilton HA-1

conversion of a TC-45J aircraft

Hamilton Little Liner

Modification of D18S with aerodynamic improvements and new, retractable tailwheel, capable of carrying 11 seats^[63]

Hamilton Westwind

Turboprop conversions with various engines

 

Hamilton Westwind III conversion at an airfield in Tennessee

Hamilton Westwind II STD

Stretched conversion powered by two 840-hp PT6As, and with accommodation for up to 17 passengers^[64]

Hamilton Westwind III

two 579-hp PT6A-20s or 630-hp PT6A-27s or 630-hp Lycoming LTS101s.

Hamilton Westwind IV

two 570-hp Lycoming LTP101s or 680-hp PT6A-28s or 750-hp PT6A-34s or 1020-hp PT6A-45s

PacAero Tradewind

Conversion of Beech D18S/C-45 to five- to 11-seat executive transport with single fin by Pacific Airmotive

Rausch Star 250

Built as C-45F 44-47231, this aircraft was re-manufactured at Wichita by Beech in 1952, to become TC-45G 51-11544. From 1959 Rausch Engineering Inc. of South San Francisco, California, converted N8186H to tricycle undercarriage, using forward retracting main gear from a P-51 and rearward-retracting nose-leg from a T-28, adding a 3 ft (0.91 m) nose extension, 4 ft (1.22 m) rear fuselage extension, re-roofed fuselage for increased headroom and enlarged cabin windows. The modifications did not obtain FAA certification despite 58 hours of flight testing, with the aircraft eventually being broken up at Antioch, CA, in 1978.^[65]

SFERMA-Beechcraft PD.18S

Modification of Beech 18S powered by two Turboméca Bastan turboprops^[66]

Volpar (Beechcraft) Model 18

Conversion of Model 18 with nosewheel undercarriage^[67][68]

Volpar (Beechcraft) Super 18

Volpar (Beechcraft) Turbo 18

Beech Model 18s fitted with the Volpar MkIV tricycle undercarriage and powered by two 705-hp Garrett TPE331-1-101B turboprop engines, flat-rated to 605 hp (451 kW), driving Hartzell HC-B3TN-5 three-bladed, reversible-pitch, constant-speed feathering propellers^[68]

Volpar (Beechcraft) Super Turbo 18

2x 705 hp (526 kW) Garrett TPE331

Volpar (Beechcraft) C-45G

C-45G aircraft modified with tricycle undercarriage

Volpar (Beechcraft) Turboliner

15-passenger version of the Turbo 18 with extended fuselage, powered by 2 705-hp Garrett TPE331-1-101Bs^[69]

Volpar (Beechcraft) Turboliner II

Turboliners modified to meet SFAR 23^[69]

Operators

Civil

As of 2012^[update], the Beechcraft Model 18 remains popular with air charter companies and small feeder airlines worldwide.

Military

 

Military Model 18 operators

 

Argentine Navy C-45

 

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor in RCAF Air Transport Command markings

 

C-45 as used by the Swiss Air Force for civilian aerial photography missions

 

Beechcraft Model D18S of the Indonesian National Police

 

UC-45J BuNo.89484 of the now defunct Military Air Transport Service

 

ROC Air Force AT-11

 

Beech 18/C-45 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

 

Beechcraft UC-45F in flight

 

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force SNB-4

  Argentina

• Argentine Air Force^[70]
• Argentine Naval Aviation^[70][71]

  Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force^[72]

  Brazil

• Brazilian Air Force^[72]

  Canada

• Royal Canadian Air Force 394 examples from 1941 to 1972^[73]
• Royal Canadian Navy 10 examples from 1952 to 1960^[74]
  • VX-10 Squadron^{[citation needed]}
  • VU-32 Squadron^[75]
• Canadian Armed Forces

  Chile

• Chilean Air Force^[76]
• Chilean Army
• Chilean Navy

  Colombia

• Colombian Air Force^[77]

  Costa Rica

• Public Force of Costa Rica^[78]

  Côte d'Ivoire^[79]

  Cuba

• Cuban Air Force - received two AT-7s, two AT-11s, a F-2B and a UC-45F in 1947^[80]

  Dominican Republic

• Dominican Air Force^[81]

  Ecuador

• Ecuadorian Air Force^[78]

  El Salvador

• Air Force of El Salvador^[82]

  France

• French Air Force^[78]
• French Naval Aviation^[78]

  Guatemala

• Guatemalan Air Force^[83]

  Haiti

• Haiti Air Corps^[83]

  Honduras

• Honduran Air Force^[84]

  Indonesia

• Indonesian Army^[78]
• Indonesian National Police^[78]

  Iran

  Italy

• Italian Air Force operated 125 aircraft from 1949 until the 1970s^[85]

  Japan

• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
• Japan Coast Guard

  Mexico

• Mexican Air Force^[86]
• Mexican Navy^[79]

  Netherlands

• Royal Netherlands Air Force^[79]
• Dutch Naval Aviation Service^[79]

  Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan Air Force^[79]

  Niger

• Niger Air Force^[79]

  Nigeria

  Paraguay

• Paraguayan Air Force^[87]

  Peru

• Peruvian Air Force^[87]

  Philippines

• Philippine Army Air Corps^[79]

  Portugal

• Forca Aerea Portuguesa^[88]
• Portuguese Navy^[88]

  Somalia

• Somali Air Force^[88] – Withdrawn in 1991

  South Africa

• South African Air Force

  South Vietnam

• Republic of Vietnam Air Force^[89]

  Spain

  Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka Air Force^[88]

  Sweden

• Swedish Air Force^[90]

   Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force

  Taiwan

• Republic of China Air Force^[91]

  Thailand

• Royal Thai Air Force^[92]

  Tonga

• Tongan Maritime Force Air Force

  Turkey

• Turkish Air Force^[92]

  United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force^[78]
• Royal Navy – Fleet Air Arm^[78] 76 Lend-Lease^[93]
  • 701 Naval Air Squadron
  • 712 Naval Air Squadron
  • 723 Naval Air Squadron
  • 724 Naval Air Squadron
  • 728 Naval Air Squadron
  • 730 Naval Air Squadron
  • 739 Naval Air Squadron
  • 742 Naval Air Squadron
  • 755 Naval Air Squadron
  • 781 Naval Air Squadron
  • 782 Naval Air Squadron
  • 791 Naval Air Squadron

  United States

• United States Army
  • United States Army Air Corps
  • United States Army Air Forces
• United States Air Force
• United States Coast Guard^[17][18]
  • United States Coast Guard Reserve^[18]
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy

  Uruguay

• Uruguayan Air Force^[94]

  Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force^[95]

  Zaire

• Zairian Air Force^[95]

Accidents and incidents

The Beechcraft Model 18 family has been involved in the following notable accidents and incidents:

• April 25, 1951: Cubana de Aviación Flight 493, a Douglas DC-4 bound from Miami to Havana, registration CU-T188, collided with a U.S. Navy SNB-1, bureau number 39939, on a practice instrument approach to Naval Air Station Key West. The collision and ensuing crashes killed all 34 passengers and five crew aboard the DC-4 and all five crew aboard the SNB. The accident occurred at midday, weather was clear with unlimited visibility, and both flight crews had been cleared to fly under visual flight rules, being expected to "see and avoid" other aircraft; the student flying the SNB was wearing view-limiting goggles, but the other SNB crew were not, and were expected to keep watch. Ground witnesses said that neither aircraft took evasive action prior to the collision, and the Civil Aeronautics Board attributed the accident to the failure of both flight crews to see and avoid conflicting air traffic.^[96]
• 1967: Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was killed in the crash of a Beechcraft 18 in Saudi Arabia.^[97]
• December 10, 1967: American soul music singer Otis Redding, four members of his backing band the Bar-Kays, the pilot, and another member of Redding's entourage were killed in the crash of Redding's H18, registration N390R, into Lake Monona on approach to Truax Field in Wisconsin. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was unable to determine the cause of the crash, noting that the left engine and propeller were not recovered.^[98][99] Trumpet player Ben Cauley, the sole survivor of the crash, subsequently revived the Bar-Kays together with another band member who was aboard a different aircraft.^[100]
• September 20, 1973: American folk music singer-songwriter Jim Croce, four members of his entourage, and the pilot were killed when their chartered E18S, registration N50JR, crashed into a tree on takeoff from Natchitoches Regional Airport in Louisiana.^{[101][102][103]} The NTSB attributed the accident to reduced visibility due to fog, and to physical impairment of the pilot, who had severe coronary artery disease and had run 3 mi (4.8 km) to the airport.^[103] An investigation conducted for a lawsuit against the charter company attributed the accident solely to pilot error, citing his downwind takeoff into a "black hole" of severe darkness, causing him to experience spatial disorientation.^[104]
• September 26, 1978: Air Caribbean Flight 309, an air taxi flight by a D18S, registration N500L, crashed on approach to Isla Verde International Airport in Puerto Rico, killing the pilot and the five passengers aboard the aircraft and causing substantial property damage and injuries to bystanders on the ground. The pilot could not communicate with approach control and was following directions relayed by local tower controllers, who told the pilot to make a turn and maintain separation from a Lockheed L-1011 that was overtaking the flight, but the pilot did not turn, and the D18S passed underneath and very close to the L-1011. Both the NTSB and a U.S. District Court ruling attributed the crash to the D18S pilot's failure to correctly follow visual flight rules and air traffic control instructions to maintain separation from the much larger L-1011, causing a loss of aircraft control due to wake turbulence.^[105][106] A contributing factor was the pilot's difficulties in communication with controllers.^[105]
• July 4, 1987: Ten people, including all then-current members of The Montana Band, were killed when the pilot of their chartered D18S, N132E,^[107] failed to clear a hillside near Lakeside, Montana, while performing a flypast of the venue where the band had performed earlier.^[108][109] The pilot performed an "abrupt" climb and performed a "hammerhead stall" maneuver, reversing direction and entering a dive. The accident was attributed to the pilot's poor judgment and failure to maintain altitude during unauthorized attempted aerobatics.^[107]

Aircraft on display

Argentina

• AT-11A 3495 – at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina in Buenos Aires.^[110]
• C-45H 5621 – at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina in Buenos Aires.^[111]
• C-45H AF-555 – at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina in Buenos Aires.^[112]
• H18S c/no. BA-752 (former LV-JFH) – at the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina in Buenos Aires.^[113]

Australia

• E18S c/no. BA-81 (former N3781B) - at the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra, Queensland.^[114]

Belgium

• 3NM floatplane c/no CA-191 (former C-FGNR) – at Pairi Daiza.^{[115][better source needed]}

Brazil

• AT-11 4615 - at the Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.^[116][117]
• C-45F 2856 - at the Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.^[118][119]

Canada

• C-45H 459 – at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Tail code CF-MJY^[120][121]
• 3TM 8034 – at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.^[122]
• D18S c/no. A-141 (former CF-MPH) – at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division in Regina, Saskatchewan.^[123]
• D18S c/no. A-142 (former CF-MPI) – at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta.^[123][124]
• D18S c/no. A-156 – at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.^[125]
• 3N c/no. A-652 (former RCAF 1477) – at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba.^[123][126]
• 3NMT c/no. A-700 – at the Canadian Air Land Sea Museum at Toronto/Markham Airport in Markham, Ontario.^[123]
• 3NM c/no. A-710 – at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.^[123][127]
• 3NMT c/no. A-782 (former CF-CKT) – at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia.^[128][129]
• 3NMT c/no. A-872 – at the TransCanada Highway in Ignace, Ontario.^[123][130]
• 3NM c/no. A-895 – at the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta.^[123][131]

Chile

• D18S c/no. A-1024 (former FACh 465) – at the Museo Aeronautico y del Espacio in Santiago, Chile.^[132][133]

India

• D18S VT-CNY former aircraft of the Raja of Mayurbhanj and later sold to Coal India Limited- at the Hotel Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.^[134]

Italy

• C-45F 6668 – suspended inside the Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport passenger terminal in Olbia, Sardinia.^[135] This was the first aircraft owned by Alisarda Airlines and was used in the filming of the movie The Last Emperor.^[136]

Malta

• C-45H 8304 – under restoration at the Malta Aviation Museum in Ta' Qali, Malta.^[137][138]

Mexico

• UC-45J Expeditor "ETL-1320" (S/N): 18 - at the Museo Militar de Aviación.^{[citation needed]}

Netherlands

• C-45G 51-11665 – at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, Netherlands.^[139]

New Zealand

• AT-11 3691 - at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, New Zealand.^{[140][better source needed]}

Portugal

• AT-11 2504 - at the Museu do Ar in Sintra, Portugal.^[135]

Spain

• C-45H AF-752– at Fundación Infante de Orleans in Madrid, Spain.^[141]

Turkey

• AT-11 Kansan 6390/9-930 – at Istanbul Aviation Museum.^[142]

United Kingdom

• E18S G-ASUG c/no. BA-111 – at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian, Scotland.^[143][144]

United States

• AT-11 41‐27561 – at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio.^[145][146] or 42-37493^[135]
• AT-11B 41-27616 – at the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center at Travis AFB, California.^[135][147]
• AT-11 42-36887 – at the Barksdale Global Power Museum in Bossier City, Louisiana.^[148]
• AT-11 42-37240 – at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas.^[149][150]
• UC-45 42-37496 – at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. This aircraft was originally an AT-11 before being remanufactured.^[151]
• UC-45F 44-47342 – at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum in Anchorage, Alaska.^[152][153]
• C-45G 51-11467 – at the EAA Chapter 1241 Air Museum at the Florida Keys Marathon Airport in Marathon, Florida.^[154]
• TC-45H 51-11529 – at the Tri-State Warbird Museum in Batavia, Ohio.^[155]
• C-45H 51-11696 – at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.^[156]
• C-45G 51-11795 – at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware.^[157]
• C-45G 51-11897 – at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.^[158][159]
• C-45H 52-10539 – at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo, New York.^[160][161]
• C-45H 52-10865 – at the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center at Travis AFB, California.^[162][163]
• C-45H 52-10893 – at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio.^[164]
• UC-45J 09771 – at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. This aircraft was converted from the last civil Beech 18 built prior to WWII.^[14]
• UC-45J 23774 – at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas.^[135]
• RC-45J 51233 – at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, Tennessee.^[165][166]
• UC-45J 51242 – at the CAF Central Texas Wing in San Marcos, Texas.^[167]
• UC-45J 51291 – at the Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento, California.^[168]
• UC-45J 51338 – at the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota.^[169]
• S18D c/no. 178 – at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee.^[170]
• D18S c/no. A-935 – at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum at Tullahoma Regional Airport in Tullahoma, Tennessee.^[170]
• C-45H AF-824 – at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee.^[170]
• E18S c/no. BA-453 – at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee.^[170]
• H18 c/no. BA-670 – at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas.^[171]

Specifications (UC-45 Expeditor)

 

3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.^[172]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots
• Capacity: 6 passengers
• Length: 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 8 in (14.53 m)
• Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
• Wing area: 349 sq ft (32.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,420 lb (2,458 kg)
• Gross weight: 7,500 lb (3,402 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 "Wasp Junior" radial engines, 450 hp (340 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h, 196 kn)
• Range: 1,200 mi (1,900 km, 1,000 nmi) at 160 mph (260 km/h; 140 kn) and 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
• Service ceiling: 26,000 ft (7,900 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,850 ft/min (9.4 m/s)

See also

• Air Caribbean Flight 309

•  Aviation portal

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Airspeed Oxford
• Avro Anson
• Barkley-Grow T8P-1
• Cessna AT-17 Bobcat
• De Havilland Dove
• Evangel 4500
• Fairchild AT-21 Gunner
• Lockheed Model 10 Electra
• Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior
• Siebel Si 204

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Notes

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4. "Twin Beech: The 1930s airplane that set Beech Aircraft Corporation on a course towards 50 years of success" Flying Magazine, February 1982, pp. 26-30, Retrieved: August 5, 2017
5. "Fact Sheet: Beech AT-11 Kansan." National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. Retrieved: August 5, 2017.
6. Bauschspies, James S. and William E. Simpson, "Research and Technology Program Perspectives for General Aviation and Commuter Aircraft", NASA Contract NASW-3554 for NASA, Sept. 1982, N83-17454#. Retrieved: Dec. 18, 2014. (In particular, see: Table 2.4 "COMMUTER CARGO FLEET IN 1981 - TOP TEN AIRCRAFT MODELS - NUMBER IN FLEET," which notes Beech 18 units are more than the next two aircraft combined (Convair 500/680 and Douglas DC-3), and more than the next three general aviation aircraft combined.
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15. Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 41–42.
16. Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 42.
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External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beechcraft Model 18.

• Experimental Aircraft Association (Chapter 1000) Beech E18S overview and pictorial tour April 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine