Beech / Beechcraft 18 / C-45 Expeditor
Utility Aircraft
Photo ©: Karsten Palt
The Beechcraft Model 18 is a twin-engine light utility aircraft produced by the US-American manufacturer Beech Aircraft Corporation. The Beech 18 was in military service as military transport and trainer aircraft during and after World War II amongst others by the USAAF/USAF, US Navy and the Royal Air Force. Military variants include the C-45 Expeditor, F-2 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, AT-11 Kansan, SNB Kansan and JRB.
The Beech Model 18 was built between 1937 and 1970 in at least 32 variants.
| Crew | 2 | |
| Passengers | 7-9 | |
| Propulsion | 2 Radial Engines | |
| Engine Model | Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B Wasp Junior | |
| Engine Power (each) | 336 kW | 450 hp |
| Speed | 354 km/h | 191 kts 220 mph |
| Service Ceiling | 6.523 m | 21.400 ft |
| Range | 3.060 km | 1.652 NM 1.901 mi. |
| Empty Weight | 2.651 kg | 5.844 lbs |
| max. Takeoff Weight | 4.491 kg | 9.900 lbs |
| Wing Span | 15,15 m | 49 ft 8 in |
| Wing Area | 33,5 m² | 361 ft² |
| Length | 10,73 m | 35 ft 2 in |
| Height | 2,84 m | 9 ft 4 in |
| First Flight | 15.01.1937 | |
| Production Status | out of production | |
| Production Range | 1937-1969 | |
| Total Production | ca. 9000 | |
| ICAO Code | B18T BE18 | |
| Data for (Version) | Beech Super H18 | |
| [Photo-ID: 1808] © Karsten Palt 2009-04-03 | |
 | Beech 18 3NM (D18S) Reg.: N21FS c/n: CA-138 |
| AERO Friedrichshafen 2009 [Friedrichshafen (EDNY / FDH)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1900] © Karsten Palt 2009-04-04 | |
 | Beech 18 C-45F / C-18S Reg.: HB-GAC c/n: 8434 |
| Flieger Flab Museum [Dübendorf (LSMD)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 1901] © Karsten Palt 2009-04-04 | |
 | Beech 18 C-45F / C-18S Reg.: HB-GAC c/n: 8434 |
| Flieger Flab Museum [Dübendorf (LSMD)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12934] © Karsten Palt 2016-07-10 | |
 | Beech 3NM (D18S) Classic Formation Reg.: N21FS c/n: CA-138 ex RCAF 1538 |
| Flying Legends 2016 [Duxford Aerodrome (EGSU / QFO)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12935] © Karsten Palt 2016-07-10 | |
 | Beech 3NM (D18S) Classic Formation Reg.: N223CM c/n: CA-223 ex RCAF 2344 |
| Flying Legends 2016 [Duxford Aerodrome (EGSU / QFO)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7583] © Karsten Palt 2013-08-16 | |
 | Beech AT-11 Kansan Turkish Air Force Reg.: 6930 c/n: 4561 |
| Turkish Air Force Museum [Yesilkoy, Istanbul] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7584] © Karsten Palt 2013-08-16 | |
 | Beech AT-11 Kansan Turkish Air Force Reg.: 6930 c/n: 4561 |
| Turkish Air Force Museum [Yesilkoy, Istanbul] | |
| [Photo-ID: 5354] © Karsten Palt 2012-01-11 | |
 | Beech AT-11 Kansan United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Reg.: 41-27561 c/n: 1406 |
| National Museum of the United States Air Force [Dayton, Ohio / USA (Wright-Patterson AFB)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10882] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech AT-11 Kansan United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Reg.: 41-9577 c/n: 1003 ex N6953C |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10883] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech AT-11 Kansan United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Reg.: 41-9577 c/n: 1003 ex N6953C |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10884] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech AT-7 Navigator United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Reg.: 42-2438 c/n: 4260 ex N8073H |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10885] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech AT-7 Navigator United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Reg.: 42-2438 c/n: 4260 ex N8073H |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6409] © Karsten Palt 2013-02-09 | |
 | Beech C-45F Expeditor Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Reg.: L1-5/90 c/n: 8411 ex USAAF 44-87152, ex RTAF L1-6/90 |
| Royal Thai Air Force Museum [Bangkok] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6410] © Karsten Palt 2013-02-09 | |
 | Beech C-45F Expeditor Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Reg.: L1-5/90 c/n: 8411 ex USAAF 44-87152, ex RTAF L1-6/90 |
| Royal Thai Air Force Museum [Bangkok] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10063] © Karsten Palt 2014-05-30 | |
 | Beech C-45G Expeditor United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 51-11795 c/n: AF-352 converted from AT-11, ex Air America N7950C |
| Air Mobility Command Museum [Dover AFB, DE] | |
| [Photo-ID: 8000] © Karsten Palt 2014-05-30 | |
 | Beech C-45G Expeditor United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 51-11795 c/n: AF-352 converted from AT-11, ex Air America N7950C |
| Air Mobility Command Museum [Dover AFB, DE] | |
| [Photo-ID: 13194] © Karsten Palt 2016-10-10 | |
 | Beech C-45G Expeditor United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 51-11897 c/n: AF-454 |
| Castle Air Museum [Atwater, CA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12395] © Karsten Palt 2016-04-12 | |
 | Beech C-45H Expeditor Mercy Flights Reg.: N115MF c/n: AF-253 built in 1942, ex USAF 51-11696 |
| Museum of Flight [Seattle, WA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7515] © Karsten Palt 2013-07-19 | |
 | Beech D18S Reg.: C-GZCE c/n: A-156 displayed as RCAF HB143 |
| Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum [Hamilton, Mount Hope] | |
| [Photo-ID: 7516] © Karsten Palt 2013-07-19 | |
 | Beech D18S Reg.: C-GZCE c/n: A-156 displayed as RCAF HB143 |
| Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum [Hamilton, Mount Hope] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10213] © Karsten Palt 2014-05-28 | |
 | Beech D18S Reg.: N522B c/n: A-481 |
| NASM Udvar Hazy Center [Chantilly, VA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 2725] © Karsten Palt 2009-09-05 | |
 | Beech G18S Reg.: N45CF c/n: BA466 |
| Oldtimer-Fliegertreffen 2009 [Kirchheim unter Teck - Hahnweide (EDST)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12080] © Karsten Palt 2015-08-30 | |
 | Beech G18S Reg.: N45CF c/n: BA466 |
| Flugtag Breitscheid 2015 [Breitscheid (EDGB)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12079] © Karsten Palt 2015-08-30 | |
 | Beech G18S Reg.: N45CF c/n: BA466 |
| Flugtag Breitscheid 2015 [Breitscheid (EDGB)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12763] © Karsten Palt 2016-07-09 | |
 | Beech G18S Reg.: N45CF c/n: BA466 |
| Royal International Air Tattoo 2016 [RAF Fairford (EGVA / FFD)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 2993] © Hartmut Ehlers 2010-01-17 | |
 | Beech H18S Reg.: PT-KXM c/n: BA-684 |
| Museu Aéroespacial (MUSAL), Campo dos Afonsos [Base Aerea dos Afonsos - BAAF (SBAF)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 957] © Karsten Palt 2008-06-21 | |
 | Beech Model 18 C-45H United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 51-11665 c/n: AF-222 USAF 42-2429, ex G-BKRG |
| Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome [Lelystad (EHLE / LEY)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10887] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech S18D Reg.: CF-BKN c/n: 177 ex N55681 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10888] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech S18D Reg.: CF-BKN c/n: 177 ex N55681 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 13] © Karsten Palt 2006-06-17 | |
 | Beech T-7 Navigator (D18S-3NM) Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht Reg.: PH-KHV c/n: CA-254 RNAF G-29 |
| Open Dagen Koninklijke Luchtmacht 2006 [Leeuwarden (EHLW / LHW)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 300] © Karsten Palt 2007-06-15 | |
 | Beech T-7 Navigator (D18S-3NM) Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht Reg.: PH-KHV c/n: CA-254 RNAF G-29 |
| Open Dagen Koninklijke Luchtmacht 2007 [Volkel (EHVK / UDE)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 910] © Karsten Palt 2008-06-20 | |
 | Beech T-7 Navigator (D18S-3NM) Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht Reg.: PH-KHV c/n: CA-254 RNAF G-29 |
| Open Dagen Koninklijke Luchtmacht 2008 [Leeuwarden (EHLW / LHW)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 12081] © Karsten Palt 2015-08-30 | |
 | Beech T-7 Navigator (D18S-3NM) Stichting Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht (SKHV) Reg.: PH-KHV c/n: CA-254 |
| Flugtag Breitscheid 2015 [Breitscheid (EDGB)] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10890] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Army Reg.: 29646 c/n: N-1082 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10891] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Army Reg.: 29646 c/n: N-1082 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10892] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Navy Reg.: 39213 c/n: 4297 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 10893] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Navy Reg.: 39213 c/n: 4297 |
| Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] | |
| [Photo-ID: 11249] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-04 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Navy Reg.: 44588 c/n: 8222 ex N9657 |
| March Field Air Museum [Riverside, CA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 11250] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-04 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Navy Reg.: 44588 c/n: 8222 ex N9657 |
| March Field Air Museum [Riverside, CA] | |
| [Photo-ID: 6135] © Karsten Palt 2012-06-12 | |
 | Beech UC-45J Expeditor United States Navy Reg.: 89468 c/n: N1135 ex N4606 |
| Planes of Fame Aircraft Museum [Chino, CA] | |