Beauty... I flew 1000 hours myself in the 18s as night cargo freighter. Flew both models and I will take any tail dragger or tricycle. Both models are awesome birds.
I bought this airplane yesterday, 6/10/2013, and the airplane (an H Model) is fabulous! I flew the tailwheel version, both the D and G Models, for a living in the '70s and know that the nosewheel version is a lot easier to takeoff and land - I like that! Number one son, Heath (flying his E Model Twin Beech, N7MB) and I flew formation from Kenedy, TX (home of Beech 18 guru Butch Card) to MDD (home base) and had a great time. Does 150-170 knots. You'll see it this fall at the Beech party!
It's a shame when you see a beautiful old bird like that take off, and the right seat is empty. I understand how some love to fly solo and "be one with the plane," but I prefer to "share the experience" with as many as I can.
The airplane is now at Abilene Aero, soon to be the best equipped -18 in the world. It will have dual GTN 750s, NEXRAD weather, traffic, Chartview, ADS-B, an S-Tec 55X autopilot with altitude capture and autotrim. Should be done mid-September. I'll try to do a video on it - or you can see it live this fall at the Beech Party in THA!
Great video & Thumbs Up, I love these Beech 18 & C-45 Airplanes I haven't been on a Trigear yet but I hope to soon on a company that operates out of Fullerton Airport in California.
It’s probably a more pleasant airplane to fly with the tricycle landing gear. Still, I love the look with a conventional gear. The Super H18s came both ways.
it might be the best equipped beech in the world but how the hell is the spar and all the corrosion and cracks ..... on a lot of these flying airplanes the spar strap is the only thing holding things together. Too bad, they are great flyers
triplanelover Considering how much the owners care about these machines, I wouldn't be surprised if they added some reinforcements to the point where you would have to be actively looking to damage the spar.
The best equipped Beech 18 is an original one. Thats ruining a vintage aiplane by putting all that crap in it. Dont get me wrong i love all that stuff but not in this airplane. At all.