Beechcraft Model 18 "Twin Beech" - Hamilton Standard 6167A-15

Hamilton Standard Propeller Blade for a Beechcraft Model 18

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, 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

   Currently in its Original Condition with the options of having it Polished and Mounted.

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)

• Model S18A

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

Model 18B

Improved model with increased range and useful load, fitted with 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5 engines

• 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).

• Model S18D

Version of Model 18D capable of being fitted with skis or Edo 55-7170 floats, MTOW: 7,170 lb (3,250 kg)

Model A18D

Variant of 18D with MTOW increased by 300 lb (140 kg) to 7,500 lb (3,400 kg), fitted with Pratt and Whitney R-985 engines with 450 hp each^[26]

• Model SA18D

Seaplane version of Model A18D, but same MTOW as S18D, fitted with Edo 55-7170 floats

Model A18A

Version fitted with Pratt and Whitney R-985 engines of 450 horsepower (340 kW), MTOW: 7,500 lb (3,400 kg)

• Model SA18A

Seaplane version of Model A18A, fitted with Edo 55-7170 floats, MTOW: 7,170 lb (3,250 kg)

Model 18R

Model with Pratt and Whitney R-985-A1 engines with dual-stage blower for increased power at higher operating altitudes, 450 horsepower (340 kW), seven built, one to Sweden as an air ambulance, six to Nationalist China as M18R light bomber

Model 18S

Nine-passenger pre-World War II civil variant, served as basis for USAAF C-45C

Model B18S

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

Model C18S

Variant of B18S with seating for eight passengers, and equipment and minor structural changes

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

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.

Model E18S

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

Model E18S-9700

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

Model G18S

A Model G18S arrives at the 2016 RIAT, England

Superseded E18S, MTOW of 9,700 lb (4,400 kg); 155 built

Model G18S-9150

Lightweight version of G18, MTOW of 9,150 lb (4,150 kg); one built

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

Military versions

USAAC/USAAF Designations

C-45

Six-seat staff transport based on C18S; 11 built

C-45A

Eight-seat utility transport based on C18S; 20 built

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

C-45C

Two Model 18S aircraft impressed into the USAAF, redesignated UC-45C in January 1943

C-45D

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

C-45F at the Barksdale Global Power Museum

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

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

C-45F

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

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

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

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

TC-45H 

RC-45J 

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

TC-45J 

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

UC-45J 

AT-11 at the Barksdale Global Power Museum

AT-7 Navigator

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

AT-7A

Floatplane version of AT-7; six built

AT-7B

Winterised AT-7; nine built

AT-7C

Based on C18S with R-985-AN3 engines; 549 built

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.

AT-11A

Conversion of AT-11 as navigation trainer; 36 converted

CQ-3

Conversion of UC-45F, modified to act as drone control aircraft, redesignated as DC-45F in June 1948

F-2s in Alaska, 1941

F-2

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B18

F-2A

Improved version

F-2B

US Navy Designations

SNB-1 Kansan

SNB-2 Navigator

JRB-1

Photographic aircraft, based on the C18S, fitted with fairing over cockpit for improved visibility, 11 built

JRB-2

Light transport, based on the C18S; 15 built

JRB-3

Photographic version, similar to C-45B; 23 built

JRB-4

Utility transport version, equivalent to UC-45F'; 328 built.

JRB-6 

SNB-1

Similar to AT-11; 110 built

SNB-2

Navigation trainer similar to AT-7, 299 built

SNB-2C

Navigation trainer

SNB-2H

Ambulance conversion

SNB-2P

Photo-reconnaissance trainer

SNB-3

Navigation trainer

SNB-3Q

Electronic counter-measures trainer

SNB-5 

SNB-2s and SNB-2Cs were remanufactured, and designated SNB-5.

SNB-5P 

Photo-reconnaissance trainer

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.

Expeditor 3N

navigation trainer - 88 built

Expeditor 3NM

navigational trainer that could be converted to a transport - 59 built

Expeditor 3NMT

3NM converted to a transport aircraft - 67 built

Expeditor 3NMT(Special)

navigation trainer/personnel transport - 19 built

Expeditor 3TM

transport with fittings so it could be converted to a navigation trainer - 44 built

Expeditor 3TM(Special)

modified RCAF Expeditors used overseas in conjunction with Project WPB6 - three built.

Conversions

PacAero Tradewind

Conrad 9800

Modification increasing the gross weight to 9,800 pounds with a single piece winshield 

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 Infinté I. 37 converted by 1966.

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 Infinté II.

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

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.

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

SFERMA-Beechcraft PD.18S

Modification of Beech 18S powered by two Turboméca Bastan turboprops.

Volpar (Beechcraft) Model 18

Conversion of Model 18 with nosewheel undercarriage

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

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

Volpar (Beechcraft) Turboliner II

Turboliners modified to meet SFAR 23