The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess is an American twin-engined monoplane built by Beechcraft intended partly as a low cost introduction to twin-engine aircraft.[1][2]
Developed as Model PD289 (Preliminary Design 289), the prototype was unveiled on November 4, 1974, although it had first flown in September 1974.[1][3]: 409–410 The Model 76 was designed as an economical twin-engine trainer for the Beech Aero Centers and to compete with the similar Gulfstream Cougar as well as the Cessna 310.[1][4]
The first production version flew on 24 May 1977, and the name "Duchess" was chosen through a company competition.[1][3] Construction of the Duchess was set for a new factory built at the Liberal Division,[5] with deliveries beginning early in 1978.[3]: 473
Production of the Duchess continued until 1983, with no significant changes.[6] A single example was tested with turbocharged engines in 1979, but did not proceed to production.[7]: 56
Designedit
The Duchess is an all-metal low-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear and a T-tail. It seats four.[8] The design used components and the bonded wing construction from Beechcraft's single-engined Musketeer line.[7]: 55 The basic fuselage and wing structure was adapted from the Model 24 Sierra, a Musketeer variant with retractable landing gear, but the Sierra wing spar was redesigned to support the added weight of the engines.[9] Nose landing gear from the A36 Bonanza was used.[9]
The Model 76 incorporates right and left "handed" Lycoming O-360 engines that rotate in opposing directions to eliminate the critical engine during single engine operation.[10]
In 1979, a single example was converted to test the turbocharged versions of the engine. The cowlings were reshaped and the exhaust moved to accommodate the aft-mounted turbochargers.[7]: 56
The Duchess wing is of aluminum honeycomb construction fastened by bonding, rather than rivets, to reduce cost and produce a smoother aerodynamic surface.[10]
T-tailedit
The use of a T-tail on the Model 76 met with mixed critical reception when the aircraft was introduced. Plane & Pilot pronounced: "Outstanding design characteristics of the new Duchess include an aerodynamically advantageous T-tail, which places the horizontal surfaces above the propeller slipstream for better stability and handling.",[10] while Gerald Foster said: "[Beechcraft's] interest in T-tails was perhaps an affectation triggered by their wide use on jet airliners".[11]AVweb claims that Beechcraft adopted the T-tail after flight tests revealed that the initially used conventional horizontal stabilizer was too small and suffered from buffeting problems, increasing noise and vibration during flight; moving the horizontal stabilizer out of the propeller slipstream eliminated the buffeting and the need for enlargement while adding only 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of weight.[9] Additionally, the T-tail design moved the stabilizer rearward, increasing its effectiveness and giving the aircraft a broader center of gravity range.[9] The later Piper Seminole also adopted a T-tail.[9]
Variantsedit
Model 76 Duchess
Four-seat, twin-engine (Lycoming O-360), low-winged trainer with bonded aluminum construction.
Model 76TC Duchess
Unofficial designation for single test aircraft using turbocharged Lycoming O-360.
^Collins, Richard L. (February 5, 2008). . Flying. Bonnier Corporation. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^ abcMcDaniel, William H. (1982). The History of Beech: Fifty Years of Excellence. Wichita, Kansas: McCormick-Armstrong Co. ISBN0-911978-00-3.
^Phillips, Edward (June 8, 2017). "The "Baby Beechcraft" - Part Two". KingAir Magazine.
^"To provide increased final assembly facilities". Aviation Week & Space Technology: 15. December 20, 1976.
^"Beech Plans to Close Plant at Liberal, Kan". Aviation Week & Space Technology: 27. February 18, 1985.
^ abcPhillips, Edward H. (1992). Beechcraft: Pursuit of Perfection (2nd ed.). Eagan, Minnesota: Flying Books. ISBN0-911139-11-7.
^Frawley, Gerard (2003). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. p. 41. ISBN1-875671-58-7.
^ abcde"Beechcraft Duchess". avweb.com. August 5, 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
^ abcPlane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 84. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN0-918312-00-0
^Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 92. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN0-395-62888-1
^Stowell, Rick (2007). The Light Airplane Pilot's Guide to Stall/spin Awareness: Featuring the PARE Spin Recovery Checklsit. Rich Stowell, Master CFI-A. p. 447. ISBN9781879425439.
^"Beech 76A Duchess". NTPS. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^. Purdue University. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^. Smithsonian: National Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
^(PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
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October 26, 2023
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The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess is an American twin engined monoplane built by Beechcraft intended partly as a low cost introduction to twin engine aircraft 1 2 Model 76 DuchessA Beech 76 Duchess on final approachRole Four seat cabin monoplaneManufacturer BeechcraftFirst flight September 1974 1 Introduction 1978 1 Primary user Flight schools 1 Produced 1978 1983Number built 437Developed from Beechcraft SierraUS registered 1979 model Duchess1979 model Duchess Contents 1 Development 2 Design 2 1 T tail 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDevelopment editDeveloped as Model PD289 Preliminary Design 289 the prototype was unveiled on November 4 1974 although it had first flown in September 1974 1 3 409 410 The Model 76 was designed as an economical twin engine trainer for the Beech Aero Centers and to compete with the similar Gulfstream Cougar as well as the Cessna 310 1 4 The first production version flew on 24 May 1977 and the name Duchess was chosen through a company competition 1 3 Construction of the Duchess was set for a new factory built at the Liberal Division 5 with deliveries beginning early in 1978 3 473 Production of the Duchess continued until 1983 with no significant changes 6 A single example was tested with turbocharged engines in 1979 but did not proceed to production 7 56 Design editThe Duchess is an all metal low wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear and a T tail It seats four 8 The design used components and the bonded wing construction from Beechcraft s single engined Musketeer line 7 55 The basic fuselage and wing structure was adapted from the Model 24 Sierra a Musketeer variant with retractable landing gear but the Sierra wing spar was redesigned to support the added weight of the engines 9 Nose landing gear from the A36 Bonanza was used 9 The Model 76 incorporates right and left handed Lycoming O 360 engines that rotate in opposing directions to eliminate the critical engine during single engine operation 10 In 1979 a single example was converted to test the turbocharged versions of the engine The cowlings were reshaped and the exhaust moved to accommodate the aft mounted turbochargers 7 56 The Duchess wing is of aluminum honeycomb construction fastened by bonding rather than rivets to reduce cost and produce a smoother aerodynamic surface 10 T tail edit The use of a T tail on the Model 76 met with mixed critical reception when the aircraft was introduced Plane amp Pilot pronounced Outstanding design characteristics of the new Duchess include an aerodynamically advantageous T tail which places the horizontal surfaces above the propeller slipstream for better stability and handling 10 while Gerald Foster said Beechcraft s interest in T tails was perhaps an affectation triggered by their wide use on jet airliners 11 AVweb claims that Beechcraft adopted the T tail after flight tests revealed that the initially used conventional horizontal stabilizer was too small and suffered from buffeting problems increasing noise and vibration during flight moving the horizontal stabilizer out of the propeller slipstream eliminated the buffeting and the need for enlargement while adding only 15 pounds 6 8 kg of weight 9 Additionally the T tail design moved the stabilizer rearward increasing its effectiveness and giving the aircraft a broader center of gravity range 9 The later Piper Seminole also adopted a T tail 9 Variants editModel 76 Duchess Four seat twin engine Lycoming O 360 low winged trainer with bonded aluminum construction Model 76TC Duchess Unofficial designation for single test aircraft using turbocharged Lycoming O 360 Operators editThe aircraft remains popular with flight training schools Beechcraft Tested one Duchess to investigate its spin recovery characteristics in conjunction with NASA 12 National Test Pilot School Operates one Duchess 13 Purdue University Uses a Duchess modified with air sampling equipment as Airborne Laboratory Atmospheric Research ALAR 14 Scaled Composites Uses one Duchess as a test aircraft 15 16 Specifications edit nbsp 1976 model Duchess instrument panelData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 17 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 3 passengers Length 29 ft 0 1 2 in 8 85 m Wingspan 38 ft 0 in 11 58 m Height 9 ft 6 in 2 90 m Wing area 181 sq ft 16 8 m2 Aspect ratio 7 973 1 Airfoil NACA 632A415 Empty weight 2 460 lb 1 116 kg Max takeoff weight 3 900 lb 1 769 kg Fuel capacity 100 US gal 83 imp gal 380 L Powerplant 2 Lycoming O 360 A1G6D air cooled flat four engines 180 hp 130 kW each Propellers 2 bladed Hartzell HC M2YR 2C L EUF F J C 7666A constant speed propellersPerformance Cruise speed 158 kn 182 mph 293 km h at 10 000 ft 3 000 m Stall speed 60 kn 69 mph 110 km h power off flaps down IAS Never exceed speed 171 kn 197 mph 317 km h Range 780 nmi 900 mi 1 440 km at 12 000 ft 3 700 m econ cruise Service ceiling 19 650 ft 5 990 m Rate of climb 1 248 ft min 6 34 m s See also editRelated development Beechcraft MusketeerAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Cessna 310 Gulfstream American GA 7 Cougar Piper SeminoleReferences edit a b c d e f g Green William Observers Aircraft page 48 Frederick Warne Publishing 1980 ISBN 0 7232 1604 5 Collins Richard L February 5 2008 What Happened to the Piston Twin Flying Bonnier Corporation Archived from the original on October 7 2017 Retrieved December 25 2018 a b c McDaniel William H 1982 The History of Beech Fifty Years of Excellence Wichita Kansas McCormick Armstrong Co ISBN 0 911978 00 3 Phillips Edward June 8 2017 The Baby Beechcraft Part Two KingAir Magazine To provide increased final assembly facilities Aviation Week amp Space Technology 15 December 20 1976 Beech Plans to Close Plant at Liberal Kan Aviation Week amp Space Technology 27 February 18 1985 a b c Phillips Edward H 1992 Beechcraft Pursuit of Perfection 2nd ed Eagan Minnesota Flying Books ISBN 0 911139 11 7 Frawley Gerard 2003 The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 2003 2004 Fyshwick ACT Australia Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd p 41 ISBN 1 875671 58 7 a b c d e Beechcraft Duchess avweb com August 5 2005 Retrieved July 26 2021 a b c Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory page 84 Werner amp Werner Corp Santa Monica CA 1977 ISBN 0 918312 00 0 Montgomery MR amp Gerald Foster A Field Guide to Airplanes Second Edition page 92 Houghton Mifflin Company 1992 ISBN 0 395 62888 1 Stowell Rick 2007 The Light Airplane Pilot s Guide to Stall spin Awareness Featuring the PARE Spin Recovery Checklsit Rich Stowell Master CFI A p 447 ISBN 9781879425439 Beech 76A Duchess NTPS Retrieved December 25 2018 Army Instrumentation Facility Airborne Laboratory Atmospheric Research ALAR Purdue University Archived from the original on March 24 2018 Retrieved December 25 2018 Rutan Voyager Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archived from the original on July 20 2018 Retrieved December 25 2018 Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne PDF National Aeronautics and Space Administration p 3 Archived from the original PDF on December 29 2016 Retrieved December 25 2018 Taylor 1980 pp 268 269 Taylor John W R 1980 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 London Jane s Publishing Company ISBN 0 7106 0705 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beechcraft Duchess Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beechcraft Duchess amp oldid 1154513221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
