Page 28 - Nov 2015 Volume 9, Number 11

The Model 18 served with distinction during World War II flying with Allied air forces around the world, chiefly in a training, transport and logistics role. A wide variety of military derivatives of the commercial Model C18S comprised the majority of airplanes built by the Beech Aircraft Corporation during the war. The photograph is of a factory-fresh UC-45B assigned to the United States Army Air Forces. The C/UC-45 also served with the Great Britain’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, designated “Expeditor I and Expeditor II.” (WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES)
Second-place pilot Russell Holderman was flying a twin-engine Lockheed Model 12-A. The “Beech Boys” collected the tidy sum of $3,000 for their efforts, and a few days later the Model 18S won the Congress Cup Race flown between Miami and Havana, Cuba, covering the distance in only 59 minutes and setting a speed record for that route.
The Model 18S possessed a number of key changes not found in the current production airplane, the Model 18D. Ted Wells and his engineering staff began work on the upgrades in 1938. As mentioned, chief among these was adoption of the Pratt & Whitney R-985. In addition, new, more streamlined cowlings were designed that included cowl flaps fitted to the lower half of each cowl. Another salient change centered on the two vertical stabilizers that were enlarged compared to the original configuration.
Wells and his team also improved operation of airframe systems and subsystems such as flight controls, heating
and the main landing gear. Lastly, thickness of the wing skin was increased. The higher horsepower of the engines coupled with technical improvements allowed a maximum gross weight increase to 6,700 pounds from 6,500 pounds. These airframe changes applied to all Model 18S built regardless of what type of engines were installed.3
Back in 1937, production of the Model 18A had been slow to start, with only six airplanes built that year. It is important to note, however, that the factory delivered only one airplane that year – the Model 18 prototype, constructor number 62 registered NC15810. Feedback from initial operators of the new Beechcraft led to development of the improved Model 18B and 18D. The former were powered by the Jacobs L-5 radial engine rated at 285 hp, whereas the latter featured Jacobs L-6 engines rated at 330 hp. The L-6 was a new engine and helped to boost sales of the Model 18D, particularly to
The AT-11 and AT-11A were assigned to train bombardiers who would serve in medium and heavy bombers, such as the North American B-25 and the Boeing B-17, respectively. “Top Secret” Norden bombsight was housed in the nose section. A majority of these Beechcrafts were based in the Southwest United States where good flying weather prevailed. Ten, 100-pound practice bombs were carried internally using vertical racks. More than 1,500 airplanes were delivered during the war.
(EDWARD H. PHILLIPS COLLECTION)
26 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015