{"id":1912,"date":"2012-01-16T09:36:59","date_gmt":"2012-01-16T15:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.15.223.162\/?page_id=1912"},"modified":"2018-02-07T16:23:03","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T22:23:03","slug":"snb-5-twin-beech-members-owned","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.highskywing.org\/?page_id=1912","title":{"rendered":"Beech"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Beechcraft AT-7 during navigation training at Kelly Field, TX. Photo from Wikipedia.<\/p><\/div>\n

(Click on photo for original version)<\/em><\/h6>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Beechcraft Model 18<\/strong> (“Twin Beech”) is the most modified U.S.-certified aircraft design, with over 200 FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificates on record. \u00a0This twin-engine tail-dragger, used by forty-three countries, can accommodate up to 11 people, and has been utilized in such varied activities as aerial spraying, dry ice cloud seeding, firefighting, medical transport, navigation training, skydiving and skywriting.<\/h3>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0One of the most recognizable features of the Twin Beech are the twin tail fins. \u00a0It is, however, sometimes mistaken for the larger Lockheed Electra (made famous by Amelia Earhart). \u00a0While smaller 330 hp or 350 hp engines were used in early models, the 450 hp Pratt & Whitney became the standard (one version actually had a 600 hp engine, but the added weight made it unacceptable). \u00a0One interesting factory option was the installation of \u00a0JATO bottles on each engine, which added about 200 hp per engine for 12 seconds.<\/h3>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0When Lockheed began focusing on larger aircraft during World War II, Beechcraft took over many of their military contracts for a smaller aircraft. \u00a0The production of the Model 18 continued for 33 years, the longest continuous production of a piston engine aircraft, and ended in 1970 with the last Model 18H going to Japan Airlines. \u00a0Various versions of the Model 18 flew in the USAF (C-45 until 1963), USN (SNB’s until 1972) and the USA (C-45 until 1976) as navigation trainers, bombardier trainers and transport aircraft.<\/h3>\n

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