Photo: Phillip Makanna / Ghosts / Platinum Fighters
Back in 1969, when production of the Beechcraft Model 18 ended, the airplane had been in production for 32 years, which at the time was a record in aviation. 9,000 of them were built during that time, making the family one of the most widespread flyers of its time.
Model 198s were envisioned as light airplanes, ideal for a wide range of applications, from executive flights to cargo hauling and even military use. It was capable of flying up to 11 people at a time, at a maximum speed of 225 mph (362 kph) and for up to a staggering 1,200 miles (1,900 km) at a time.
Because so many of them were made, there is literally not a single place on this planet the range has not traveled to. From Argentina to Zaire and anyplace in between, many Model 18 variants made their mark in the past and, in some places, they are still in use today.
The one you’re looking at is military-bred, having been deployed back in its day as a navigation trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. It served them without incident, as far as we’ve been able to find out, and was sold back in the 1970s to civilians, who used it for various purposes, but never as a freighter..
Back in the early 2000s, it was converted to U.S. Navy configuration and has become a famous plane since, being featured in some of our time's most famous specialized magazines, and it was even the base for a diecast model airplane.
The Beechcraft, now sporting a United States Marine Corps paint scheme, is for sale, and the asking price is just $189,500. For that, we’re told, the new owner should get not only a pedigree airplane, but also one fitted with some desirable creature comforts: six-place leather executive interior complete with a couch, writing table, headphone jacks and power outlets.
Because so many of them were made, there is literally not a single place on this planet the range has not traveled to. From Argentina to Zaire and anyplace in between, many Model 18 variants made their mark in the past and, in some places, they are still in use today.
The one you’re looking at is military-bred, having been deployed back in its day as a navigation trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. It served them without incident, as far as we’ve been able to find out, and was sold back in the 1970s to civilians, who used it for various purposes, but never as a freighter..
Back in the early 2000s, it was converted to U.S. Navy configuration and has become a famous plane since, being featured in some of our time's most famous specialized magazines, and it was even the base for a diecast model airplane.
The Beechcraft, now sporting a United States Marine Corps paint scheme, is for sale, and the asking price is just $189,500. For that, we’re told, the new owner should get not only a pedigree airplane, but also one fitted with some desirable creature comforts: six-place leather executive interior complete with a couch, writing table, headphone jacks and power outlets.
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