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Twin Beech
As fewer and fewer of them see regular use many folks may not be aware of the Beech Aircraft Corporation's venerable Model 18.
A little bit of background on the Beech Model 18:
The Beech Model 18 was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation* in Wichita, Kansas from the late 1930s through the late 1960s.
Also known variously as the Twin Beech or Beech 18, the type proved to be a tremendously versatile airplane over time, being used for a wide variety of missions in both military and civilian capacities.
Manufactured in a number of model versions and continually updated throughout its production run, in civilian use the Beech 18 was configured for anything from regularly scheduled passenger transport to cargo and freight hauling as well as a vast number of utilitarian tasks. Smaller and thus able to access more airfields than its well known contemporary, the Douglas Aircraft DC-3, the Beech 18 was one of the first aircraft types to be used specifically in the role of business and executive transport.
Though many Beech 18s are still airworthy and routinely flying, more modern airplanes have continually edged them out of service due to the newer planes' increased efficiency and reliability.
Still, a number of 18s have been refitted as turboprops, incorporating gas turbine engines to drive their propellers replacing the original piston radials**, as well as receiving other modifications enabling them to keep up with the newer equipment.
* Beech Aircraft had evolved by acquisition over the years, ultimately becoming part the former Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. However, in February, 2013 the firm reorganized and a newly formed Beechcraft Corporation emerged to bring the Beech name singularly forward once again.
** As a point of interest, with some exceptions, radial piston engines have not been incorporated in the design of new aircraft for many years. However, other piston engine layouts, such as the opposed cylinder configuration, are found in a variety of new aircraft.
Below are photos of two different Beech 18s as they appeared in January, 1980.
The airplane pictured above is a 1956 "E" model version Beech 18, otherwise known as a Beech E-18. While maybe appearing a bit tattered, it was most likely a very airworthy craft in this photo. It's unknown what the aircraft's main mission was at the time, but judging from the windows along its fuselage the airplane could have seen passenger carrying duty, likely as a charter. It may have been configured to carry cargo as well.
This photo shows the E-18's twin radial engines. Radials are a type of piston engine where the cylinders are arranged in spoke-like fashion with their centerlines converging in on a central point. With possibly some very limited exceptions aircraft radial engines are air-cooled, with fins surrounding each individual cylinder providing a large amount of surface area to aid in said air-cooling.
It's believed by the writer that the aircraft pictured above is a 1963 "H" model version Beech 18, or H-18, with its cargo being unloaded. The signature twin vertical stabilizer tail layout of the Beech 18 model line is quite noticeable in this picture. The lack of passenger windows along the side of this airplane's fuselage indicates that it was configured as a dedicated cargo ship.
The Beech H-18 being pushed in to its hangar for the day, ready for a most likely well-deserved rest.
Again, all of the above photos were snapped in January, 1980.
DFH photographs. Page by DFH, April, 2008
"Oh, 'an aeroplane'. Oh, I say, we are grand, aren't we? Oh, oh, no more buttered scones for me, mater. I'm off to play the grand piano. Pardon me while I fly my aeroplane." (From Monty Python's flying lesson skit.)
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