Beech 18 conversion

Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:42 pm

The pic is correct, cant remember the mod MFG. I remember it cause of the bigger wheel and tire, think it used BT-13 brakes.
The Beech 18 with the single tail is the "Tradewind", think that was made by Pacific in the early 60's. Volpar being the big mod for the tri gear conversion and the raised cabin. My uncle has a C-45 as a trigear and a one piece windshield. He also has a beautiful 1964 H-18 factory tri-gear with full exec interior.
Another note........the factory opened up the line in 1970 and produced 20 trigears for Japan Airlines

Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:58 am

N3Njeff wrote:The pic is correct, cant remember the mod MFG. I remember it cause of the bigger wheel and tire, think it used BT-13 brakes.

individual of questionable judgement Eric wrote wrote:I think the light plays a trick here though; the photo makes the fuselage look more “rounded” at the top than in reality.

I really thought my eyes were going crazy – straight 18 (x the pano) cabin windows, but a taller fuselage like a Super 18 with wedge upper cockpit windows.

T J had a good point; that is a strange conversion.

Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:42 am

May I suggest the following book?

Beech 18
A Civil & Military History
By Robert K. Parmenter
ISBN 0-9748312-0-4

Published in 2204 by the Staggerwing Museum Foundation, Inc.
for the Twin Beech 18 Society

(The Twin Beech 18 Society:
P.O. Box 550
Tullahoma, TN 37388)

There were several companies modifying the Beech 18s to trycicle
configuration and raised cabin, and the data and photos presented in this book are too many for me to copy or upload here.

Mr. Parmenter's e-mail (from the book):

beech18 at dmcom.net

Saludos,

Tulio

Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:35 am

I would second that Tulio. A fanastic amount of work went into that book! I was pleased to find a copy under the tree this past Christmas.

Mike

Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:58 am

Slinky is correct its a

Rautsch Star conversion of Beech 18

and it looks bleedin orrible!

Cant recommend Bob Parmeters book highly enough - it is superb and our Beech is in it!

TT

Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:16 pm

OK, let your imagination go....Put this monster back as a taildragger and it might not look so bad! Kind of like the Howard DGA hump!

What Hump?! :lol: