Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, universally known as the Twin Beech, first flew in January 1937 and stayed in production for 32 years, one of the longest continuous production runs of any piston aircraft, ending in 1970 with the last example delivered to Japan Airlines. Over 9,000 were built across more than 30 variants, serving as a civil feeder-liner and, during World War II, as the military C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 navigation trainer and AT-11 bombing trainer. Its rugged twin-tailfin, all-metal airframe attracted more than 200 FAA supplemental type certificates for modifications, from cargo doors to turbine engine conversions, reflecting unusual adaptability among prewar-designed light twins.
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Did you know?
Spot it by the twin tail fins: the Twin Beech is a rugged 1930s twin-engine piston transport that stayed in production for decades.
Specifications
| Persons on board | 6 |
|---|---|
| Maximum take-off weight | 3.9 t |
| Optimum ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 650 m (2,133 ft) |
| Landing distance | 570 m (1,870 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 800 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Beechcraft Model 18 starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Beechcraft, the Model 18 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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