Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite

Dutch Modelling and Aviation

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

History

The Beech AT-11 Kansan was a special version of the Beechcraft Model 18, meant to be used for the training of bombardiers and air gunners.

For more information about the Beech model 18, click here.

 

Technical Information
Dimensions:
Length: 10,42 m Wingspan: 14,54 m
Height: 2,95 m Wing area: 32,2 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 2790 kg Max. start weight: 3405 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 378 km/hr Rate of climb: 330 km/hr
Range: 1360 km Service ceiling: 7930 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Twee Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1 rated 450 hp each
Crew: Two men
Armament: None

 


In service with RNlNAS an NEIAF (RNlMFS).

The Dutch Navy intended to buy the Douglas Boston and thus was in the need of a multi engine trainer. As the Lockheed 12/212 was already in use at the Dutch East Indies, a request was made for seven Lockheeds 212 and in February 1941 a second on for the delivery of seventeen extra Lockheeds.
The engines were available. The Wright engines, ordered for the Fokker T. VIIIw, were delivered in England.
As the Lockheed 212 production was discontinued, the order was shortly afterwards converted into Lockheed 12.

Both requests were rejected because Lockheed had its hands full with orders, so it was recommended to order 24 Beech AT-11 Kansans. This was considered as a formal approval and Beech was given the order for the supply of the Beech AT-11.
Only in May 1941 the formal approval for the Beech AT-11 order was given, which was promptly rejected as for now Beech too full with orders. After it was reported that the contract was already given to Beech, the request was yet granted.
These aircraft were finally used at the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson.

In fact the Kansan was better suited for the purpose of the RNlNAS, training of bombardiers and observers than the Lockheed 12, as the AT-11 had a glass nose, an internal weapons bay for ten bombs of 100 lbs.

The version of the USAAF was equipped with a Honeywell C-1 or a Sperry C-5 autopilot, which was linked to a Norden or Sperry bomb sight.

The RNlNAS (MLD) used a different bomb sight so the Dutch AT-11s differed at that point from the USAAF machines. The delivery was to late and therefore the aircraft were seized by the US and had a fictional USAAF serial number applied. (42-30xx number in the table below)

In May 1942 the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School (RNMFS) in Jackson was a fact, so the AT-11s were released again. Initially the orange triangle and RNlNAs serials were still applied as Dutch national insignia. The USAAF fictitious number was applied to the nose and the last two digids were later also applied on the cowling and/or fuselage.

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan.
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan of the RNMFS.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Three machines were equipped with a turret with a machine gun and a movable MG in the bottom, for the training of air gunners. These machines were stationed at Tundall Field, Florida.
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan tweemotorige trainers van de Royal Netherlands Military Airforce te Jackson (Mississippi) in 1943
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan mutli engine trainers of the Royal Netherlands Military Airforce at Jackson (Mississippi) in 1943
The aircraft with number on the engine cowling is equipped with a dorsal turret.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
OLV3 M.S. Kamminga voor een Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan tweemotorige trainer op Jackson Air Force Base in mei 1943
OLV3 M.S. Kamminga in front of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan at Jackson Air Force Base, May 1943.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


The machines ordered by the RNlNAS were serialled A-1 to A-24. The aircraft were never delivered.
Below are the RNlNAS serials also given, but the relationship with the RNMFS serials are not certain. The second USAAF number is the number that the AT-11s received after RNMFS was dismissed and the aircraft were transferred again to the USAAF.
Between June 1943 and late 1943, six aircraft were borrowed from the USAAF in order to elapse the training program

Serial
Serial
Fictitious US Serial.
Fictitious US Serial
US fisc. year nr.
US fisc. year nr.
Construction nr.
Construction nr.
Date in Service
Date in Service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
A-1 42-3057 44-72006 3057 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-2 42-3058 44-72006 3058 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-3 42-3059 44-72007 3059 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-4 42-3060 44-72008 3060 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-5 42-3061 44-72009 3061 05-1942 19-02-1944  
A-6 42-3062 44-72010 3062 05-1942 19-02-1944  
A-7 42-3063 44-72011 3063 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-8 42-3064 44-72012 3064 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-9 42-3065 44-72013 3065 05-1942 19-02-1944  
A-10 42-3066 44-72004 3066 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-11 42-3067   3067     Information unknown
A-12 42-3068   3068     Information unknown
A-13 42-3069 44-72015 3069 05-1942 20-02-1944 This aircraft still exists in flying condition!
See beechbomber.com
A-14 42-3070 44-72016 3070 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-15 42-3071 44-72017 3071 05-1942 19-02-1944  
A-16 42-3072 44-72018 3072 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-17 42-3073 44-72019 3073 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-18 42-3074 44-72020 3074 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-19 42-3075 44-72021 3075 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-20 42-3076 44-72022 3076 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-21 42-3077 44-72023 3077 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-22 42-3078 44-72024 3078 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-23 42-3079 44-72025 3079 05-1942 20-02-1944  
A-24 42-3080 44-72026 3080 05-1942 20-02-1944  

Borrowed USAAF AT-11 Kansans

  US Fisc. Year nr. Date in ServiceDate out of serviceNotes
- - 41-9438 - 06-1943 27-07-1943 Written of after landing accident.
- - 41-9489 - 06-1943 31-08-1943 To Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas
- - 41-9491 - 06-1943 23-10-1943 To Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas
- - 41-9438 - 06-1943 15-12-1943 To Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas
- - 41-27468 - 06-1943 - To Robbinsfield
- - 41-27489 - 06-1943 13-09-1943 To Turnerfield

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Matchbox
    • Kit 40201: Re-release of the Pioneer kit.
  • Pioneer 2
    • Kit 4003 / 4009:Beech AT-11; It is rather simple and lacks e.g. the turret.
  • PM Models
    • Kit PM-303: Re-release of the Pioneer kit.

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72013: Set for several types of Dutch aircraft: B-25J Mitchell M-451: flag; Beech AT-11 Kansan: 71 flag.
      Hawker Seafury F.Mk.50: 10-3 & 10-2: early scheme and 10-46: The Aerobats; 6-43:Note: stencilling for one aricraft;
      F-16A: J-619; 40 jaar 31 squadron 1991. J-060; Display 1990; F-16B:J-259; "10 Years F-16 in the Netherlands" 1989.
    • Set 72043: Set for several types of Dutch aircraft: Lockheed L-212 L201; Douglas DB-7 (A-20) AL907 van MLD;
      Beech AT-11 Kansan A-14; Martin 139 WH-1 M502 in yellow & blue scheme; Martin 139 WH-1 M514 two tone camouflage;
      Ryan STM-2: S-26 aluminium dope and camouflage; MiG Killer F-16 J-063 just the marking.
    • Set 72067: Set for several types of NEI aircraft: Fokker C.X; Lockheed Loestar; C-47 Dakota; Piper L4J; North American B-25 C, B-25J en B-25G Mitchell Mitsubishi Ki-57 Topsy and Beech At-11 Kansan.

1/48th Scale

Kits

Thusfar no Beech AT-11 kits are released. ICm has released some Beech 18 versions in this scale. These kits could be coverted with de conversion set mentioned below

  • --
    • Kit --:--

Modelling add-on

  • Lone Star Models
    • Set LSM40287: AT-11/C-45 Conversion Set (BXE kit)

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

 


SchemeColour nameFS numberHumbrolXtraColorVallejo Model ColorVallejo Model AirHataka
Standard #1 Uppersides  Olive Drab 41   66 X112 70.887 71.016 ~004
Undersides  Aluminium Dope   56 - 70.864 71.062  

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Overview of colour schemes of the Dutch Beech AT-11 Kansans

Kleurenschema Beech AT-11 Kansan
Delivery scheme of the Beech AT-11 Kansan. Initially, the AT-11s of the RNlMFS still used the serials of the RNlNAS.
Kleurenschema Beech AT-11 Kansan
Second colour scheme of the Beech AT-11 Kansan.
Kleurenschema Beech AT-11 Kansan
Third colour scheme of the Beech AT-11 Kansan.
Kleurenschema Beech AT-11 Kansan
A variant of the third colour scheme of the Beech AT-11 Kansan.
Kleurenschema Beech AT-11 Kansan
A variant of the third colour scheme of the Beech AT-11 Kansan.

 

 

 


Literature.

Zestig jaar Marineluchtvaartdienst in Beeld. Hugo Hooftman pag. 80 1977 Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
The Royal Netherlands Military Flying School 1942-1944, Bijdrage tot de Geschiedenis van het Zeewezen deel 16 O.G. Ward en P.C. Boer Pag. 63 - 69; pag. 69 - 74; pag. 243 - 246 1982 Afdeling Maritieme Historie, 's Gravenhage
Luchtvaartwereld; 1e jaargang nummer 7/8: Jackson Beechcraft vliegt weer. Gerard Casius Pag. 244 1984 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Luchtvaartwereld; 3e jaargang nummer 4: De vliegtuigen van Jackson (2) Gerard Casius   1986 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Luchtvaartwereld; 3e jaargang nummer 3: De vliegtuigen van Jackson Gerard Casius Pag. 82 - 92 1986 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
85 JAAR Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld: Van Farman tot NH 90 Helikopter Peter Korbee pag. 76 - 77 2002 Korbee MLD Promotie, Valkenburg

 

Websites.

 

Special thanks to mr M.T.A. Schep for the extra information about the Dutch At-11s, such as photos and for the corrections of my (initial) drawings.