C-45 "Expeditor" aka Beech D18 [07/11] - ip18n70ga.jpg (1/1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_18

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a six to
11-seat,[2] 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, the world record at the time), over 9,000 were
produced, 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.[3][4][5]

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s saw military service—as
light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing,
navigation and gunnery), photo-reconnaisance, and "mother ship" for target
drones—including United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7
Navigator, AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1
Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and
navigators trained in these aircraft.[3][4][6]

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft"
and "feeder airliner." Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have
included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish seeding, dry ice cloud
seeding, aerial firefighting, air mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous
movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine
testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. Many are now privately
owned, around the world, with over 300 in the U.S. still on the FAA Aircraft
Registry in December 2014.

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircr...ircraft_id=333

PRIMARY

Focus Model: Beechcraft UC-45 (Expeditor)
Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft Corporation - USA
Service Entry: 1941
Production Total: 1,300
Crew: 2 + 7


STRUCTURAL

Length: 34.15 ft (10.41 m)
Width: 47.67 ft (14.53 m)
Height: 9.68ft (2.95 m)
Weight (Empty): 6,173 lb (2,800 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 7,496 lb (3,400 kg)


POWER

Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radial engines delivering
450 horsepower each.



PERFORMANCE
Maximum Speed: 224 mph (360 kmh; 194 kts)
Maximum Range: 1,181 miles (1,900 km)
Service Ceiling: 26,017 ft (7,930 m; 4.9 miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,850 feet-per-minute (564 m/min)



ARMAMENT

Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
None.


VARIANTS
C-45 - Six-seat transport model; 11 examples produced.
C-45A - Eight seat multi-purpose transport model; 20 examples produced.
C-45B - Based on C18S model; 223 examples produced; later redesignated to UC-45.
C-45C - Based on 18S model
C-45F - Based on C18S; seven-seat passenger transport; later redesignated to
UC-45F.



OPERATORS
Canada; United Kingdom; United States


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