Beechcraft Model 18 Aircraft

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech") is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. The Beechcraft Model 18 flew for the first time on 15 January, 1937, and was continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), and over 9,000 were built. The low-wing, all-metal, twin-engine monoplane was originally intended as a six-to-eight passenger executive or feeder airline transport, but eventually thirty-two versions were built. It was sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats.

During World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service as trainers and transports, and more than 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft. After the war, it became the pre-eminent business aircraft and feeder airliner. Its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, firefighting, freight, air-mail delivery, skydiving, and many other functions. The powerplant was the 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine. Later, the E18S featured a taller fuselage, and the H18, introduced in 1963, offeredan optional tricycle undercarriage.

What is the Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft?

The Beechcraft Model 18 is a low-wing, all-metal, twin-engine monoplane, which is also known as Twin Beech. It was manufactured by Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas, from 1937 to 1970. It was originally intended as a six-to-eight passenger executive or feeder airline transport, and it has a use in banner towing. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969, over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. The basic design is a low-wing, tailwheel design with two Pratt and Whitney Wasp, Jr. engines.

The Beechcraft D18S Twin Beech is a variant. The H18 Super Twin Beech seats up to 10 passengers plus 1 pilot. A 1964 Beechcraft H-18 with factory tri-gear is another model. Depending on the branch within which the aircraft was serving and the part it was filling, the military Beech 18 was called either AT-11, AT-7/UC-45J Navigator, or the C-45 Expeditor/SNB-1 Kansan. The USAAF called the transport version C-45 Expeditor.

Is the Beechcraft Model 18 considered a warbird?

Yes, the Beechcraft Model 18 is considered a warbird. The EAA Flying Warplanes of America classifies it as a twin-engine warbird, and the Warbird Registry follows surviving warplanes and includes the Beech 18. During WWII, thousands were built for the US armed forces. The USN remanufactured many surviving aircraft into versions like the SNB-5.

The Beech 18 has a warbird status because it is a multimission combat plane used in combat across wars. Peacetime does not lower its warbird status, and the FAA puts warbirds as a special group. The Beech 18 qualifies under government rules, and operators get paperwork proving the plane is safe to fly. CASA controls warbird maintenance for the Beech 18. Museums show the Beech 18 as a warbird, and airshow parking spots sort it in the warbird category.

What are the specifications of the Beechcraft Model 18?

The specifications of the Beechcraft Model 18 are given in the table below.

The Beechcraft Model 18 is a twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel aircraft. It has twin radial engines. The powerplant is two Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 "Wasp Junior" radial engines, 450 hp each. The engines are nine-cylinder radials with integral superchargers. The Pratt & Whitney R-985 nine-cylinder radial engine became the definitive powerplant from the prewar C18S onwards. Early production aircraft used two 330 hp Jacobs L-6 or 350 hp Wright R-760E radial engines. The crew consists of two pilots. The aircraft is a 6- to 11-seater, with a capacity of six passengers.

What is the range of the Beechcraft 18?

The Beechcraft 18 has a normal range of 1,000 nm and a max range of 1,200 nm. Range is 1,931 km (1,200 mi) at 257 km/h (160 mph) and 1,524 m (5,000 ft). Maximum range with a 45-minute reserve at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) is 1,378 nautical miles (2,552 kilometers). The Beech 18 has a range of 1,130 miles (1,818 kilometers). The C45 combat has a maximum range of about 1,180 miles (1900 kilometers). Range depends on how much fuel you have. Thin air boosts Vmax range and elevation helps mileage.

What is the cruise speed of the Beechcraft 18?

The Beechcraft 18 has a normal cruise speed of 186 knots and an economy cruise speed of 160 knots. Normal cruise at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) varies from 153 knots (176 mph) to 186 knots (214 mph). Fuel consumption is 33 gallons per hour (125 liters per hour) to 48 gph (182 l/h). At 66.7% power cruise speed is 166 kt (191 mph) at 9,000 ft (2,743 m). At 53.3% power cruise speed is 161 kt (185 mph) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m).

E18S’s cruise speed is within 153 to 186 nautical miles per hour. H18 has a cruise speed of 191 knots. Model 18 variants’ cruise speed is from 176 miles per hour to 214 miles per hour at about 2 miles high (3.2 kilometers high).

What is the price of a Beechcraft 18?

Beechcraft 18 has a price range between $175,000 to $400,000. Typical price is $259,000 to $335,000. PAPI Price Estimate is $260,074. A 1957 Beechcraft Super E-18 is about $175k. A 1957 E18S costs $75,000. A 1945 Beech 18 lists for $130,000. Price variation is influenced by time the engine has run, overhaul status, avionics upgrades, cabin configuration, damage history, and market demand. Repair history raises price when resold. Diligence and transparency show taking care of the plane.

Expert behind this article

Jim Goodrich

Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.