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 Model 18

History

The Beechcraft Model 18 was developed in the late thirties. It showed some resemblance with the Lockheed 10 Electra because of is size and twin tail.
The prototype first flew in January 1937.
The first aircraft had two Jacobs L-6 radial engines of 330 hp or two Wright R-760E of 350 hp each.
Later versions were fitted with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-985 to 450 hp.
As a test a Beech 18 was equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600-horsepower, but the construction of the device proofed not toe be suitable for this engine.

Later, in 1955, an enlarged version of the Beech D18S, called Super 18 was developed. The fuselage was 150 mm higher, allowing more headroom for passengers.
The last version was Model H18, released in 1963, which was equipped with an optional three-piece landing gear.
In 1970 the last Beech Model 18 was produced.
Eventually over 8000 examples were built in more than thirty versions.

The production was well running when Beech received an order for a trainer for bombers, multi-engine pilots and navigators.
The U.S. Army ordered the AT-7 and the U.S. Navy ordered the SNB.
Later developments were the AT-11 and SNB-2 and C-45 transport.
The USAF used the Beechcraft Model 18 in a number of variants till after the second World War, including the AT-11, C-45, F-2 (photo reconnaissance) and the UC-45. In the first half of the fifties, many of these aircraft were fully converted to Beech D18S standard and provided with a variety of post-war improvements. They received brand new serial numbers and registrations.
In 1963 the aircraft went out of service.
The U.S. Navy also upgraded their Beech SNB to SNB-5 ans SNB-5P standard. These aircraft remained in use until 1972.
The U.S. Army Beech D18 remained in use until 1976.

After the war, various modifications were developed by third parties over the years. Many were adopted by the factory and applied, as in the case of the D-18G and H models.

Versions.

Model 18A:
the base model, with room for two pilots and seven to eight passengers. Featuring the Wright R7360E radial engine of 350 hp.
  • Model S18A: a ski / float version.
  • Model A18A: Motor Equipment: Two Wright R-760 radial engines of 350 hp.
  • Model SA18A: a ski / float version.
Model 18B:
an improved version with greater range and load capacity. Equipped with two Jacobs L.5 engines rated 285 hp.
  • Model S18B: a ski / float version.
Model 18D:
Version with two pilots and nine passengers. Two Jacobs L-6 engines of 330 hp.
  • Model S18D: a ski / float version.
  • Model A18D: More payload with two Jacobs L-6 engines of 330 horsepower.
  • Model SA18D: a ski / float version.
Model 18R:
Fitted with Wright R-975 engines of 420 hp, seven built, one for Sweden and six in nationalist China as a light bomber.
Model 18S:
Pre-war version for nine passengers.
  • C-45C: Two Model 18S for USAAF. New designation UC-45C in January 1943.
Model B18S:
Pre-war version for nine passengers.
  • F-2: Photo recce version of B18.
  • F-2A: Improved F-2
    • RC-45A: New USAF designation of F-2, F-2A-2B and F in 1948.
Model C18S:
Eight passengers, further changes in structure and equipment.
  • C-45: Six-person VIP version for USAAF based on the C-18S.
  • C-45A: Eight seat transport variant of C-18S.
  • C-45B: As C-18S but with some internal modifications. New designation UC-45B in 1943.
    • Expeditor I: RAF-version .(Lend Lease).
    • JRB-3: Photo recce version for US Navy based on C-45B.
  • C-45D: Two (on the production line) for passengers converted AT-7s. New designation UC-45D in January 1934.
  • C-45E: Two (on production line) converted AT-7s and four AT-7Bs. New designation UC-45E January in 1943.
  • C-45F: Standardized seven-seat version based on C18S, with a longer nose than previous versions. Later known as UC-45F. More than 110 examples built.
    • CQ-3: Drone version of UC-45F, later known as DC-45F.
    • Expeditor II: C-45Fs for RAF and Royal Navy (Lend Lease).
    • Expeditor III: C-45Fs for RCAF ((Lend Lease)
    • JRB-4: Transport version U.S. Navy, equivalent to UC-45F.
  • JRB-1: Photo reconnaissance version of the U.S. Navy, based on the C18S with a fairing in the cockpit for better visibility.
  • JRB-2: Light transport version of C18S for the U.S. Navy.
  • AT-7:  Navigation trainer based on C18S, with an astrodome and three positions for students. Powered by 450 hp (336 kW) R-985-25 engines. 577 built.
    • AT-7A:Float version.
    • AT-7B: Arctic version of AT-7.
    • AT-7C: Version to the C18S equipped with two Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN3 engines.
      • SNB-2: navigation trainer, similar to AT-7.
      • SNB-2C: version for US Navy, similar to AT-7C.
        • SNB-5: Re-built, modernized SNB-2s / SNB-2Cs for the U.S. Navy.
          • TC-45J: After 1962: new designation of all remaining SNB-5s van US Navy.
        • SNB-5P: Trainer for U.S. Navy Photo Reconnaissance.
          • RC-45J: After 1962: new designation of all remaining SNB-5Ps van US Navy.
      • SNB-2H: Ambulance version for US Navy.
      • SNB-2P: photo reconnaissance trainer for US Navy.
      • SNB-3: US Navy variant, similar to AT-7C.
      • SNB-3Q: ECM trainer for US Navy.
    • AT-11 Kansan: Trainer for air gunners and bombers derived from the AT-7. The hull had small round windows in the cabin, a bomb target compartment in the nose, a bomb bay and two machine guns, one in the nose and one in a turret.
      • AT-11A: Conversion of AT-11 as a navigational trainer.
      • SNB-1: Version of the AT-11 for US Navy
Model D18S:
First post-war version for eight passengers.
  • 3N / 3NM en 3TM:Versions of D18S for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
  • C-45G: During the early fifties 370 completely overhauled USAF AT-7s and AT-11s. Standardized to the civil D18S with automatic pilot and Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-3 engines.
  • TC-45G: Multi engine trainer version of the C-45G.
  • C-45H: During the early fifties completely overhauled USAF AT-7s and AT-11s. Standardized to the civil D18S, but without automatic pilot and equipped with R-985-AN-14B engines.
Model D18C:
Version with two Continental R9-A engines rated 525 hp.
Model E18S:
version with new designed wing.
  • Model E18S-9700: Version with more payload (9700 lbs = 4400 kg.).
Model G18S:
successor of the E18S.
  • Model G18S-9150: Lighter version of G18S.
Model H18:
Latest production version with three-legged base developed by Volpar.

 

Technical Information: Beechcraft D-18S
Dimensions:
Length: 10,7 m Wing span 15,14 m
Height: 2,87 m Wing area: - m2
Weights:
Empty weight 2650 kg Max. start weight: 4490 kg
Performance:
Max. speed: 354 km/hr Cruising speed: 298 km/hr
Range: 2460 km Ceiling: 7100 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Pratt & Whitney R-985 B-4 rated 450 hp each
also: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-985AN-14B Wasp Junior
Crew: Two men
Armament: .

 

Technical Information: Beechcraft SNB-5 (TC45J)
Dimension:
Length: 10,97 m Wing span 15,14 m
Height: 2,85 m Wing area: 33,51 m2
Weights:
Empty weight 2575 kg Max. start weight: 4490 kg
Performance:
Max. speed: 370 km/hr Cruising speed: 338 km/hr
Range: 1852 km Ceiling: 7101 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-3 rated 450 hp each
Crew: Two men
Armament: .

 

Technical Information: Beechcraft T-7 Navigator
Dimension:
Length: 10,4 m Wing span 14,4 m
Height: 2,85 m Wing area: 32,4 m2
Weights:
Empty weight 2620 kg Max. start weight: 3980 kg
Performance:
Max. speed: 370 km/hr Cruising speed: 338 km/hr
Range: 1852 km Ceiling: 7101 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1 rated 450 hp each
Crew: Two men
Armament: none.