I started skydiving in 1975, and the Beech 18 was one of the most common multi engined jumpships back then. Hundreds and hundreds of one way rides for me in 18's
In the US Army in 1968, I got to fly as co-pilot in one of these. As a rotary wing aviator, it was like a luxury cruise! The first thing the AC told me was: If you have to land this plane, wheel landing only! He told me the same thing as the owner of this one, the wing blankets the tail in a 3 pointer and makes the rudders ineffective. I logged about 100 hours in this model, before they turned it in for salvage. It was replaced with another Beech, this time a U-21 with turboprops and all the modern features...
Great movie! 1963. I think I first saw it in about 1969 when I was about 4 years old at a Cinerama theater in Southern California. My favorite part was the Beech 18 scene! Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney trying to fly that thing was hilarious! Great impression there of Jim Backus! (Of course, I didn’t get all the jokes at 4 years old.) Rooney: Old fashioneds? Do you think you oughtta drink while you’re flying? Backus: Well stop kidding, will ya, and make us some drinks! You just press the button back there marked “booze”. It’s the ooonly way to fly. Backus: There. Who says this ol’ boy can’t fly? Now I’m going to make us some Old Fashioneds the old fashioned way. Hackett: What if something happens? Backus: What can happen to an Old Fashioned?
@@balsumfractus "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" from 1963, with a long list of stars from the 30's 40's and 50's. Even the Three Stooges made an appearance in it.
The 18 was my first flying job back in 1977. Spent a little over 2800 hours in them and was in love the whole time. Granted, night freight wasn't as glamorous as that beautifully restored machine looks to be.
Learning that only about 300 of these beautiful planes are flying, I'm definitely thankful that these folks have put in the massive effort and expense to care for this plane. Also fantastic that they're generous in sharing it like this!
@@nwanchorcertification The handle when free points East and West and is up, as the tail wheel straightens, point the handle North and South ( Parallel with the Fuselage ) and push down, it will lock in place.
OMG...! Kinda brought tears to my 58yrs young eyes, to hear him say that the plane goes when he retires... I would have thought that a guy would be flying the wings off that plane upon retirement... I do however have a little insight/understanding (thanks to Mr. Browne’s channel) as to what it takes, money wise, to own one of these beauties let alone keep them in the air... Thank you Juan, and to the owner, a great ride.
Oh yeah - Fuel burn on the Beech 18 is in the neighborhood of 40 gallons per hour. I'm sure the annual inspections run over $4000.00 per year. At $4.21 per gallon it takes a major airline pilots salary to pay for keeping that bird healthy! (not to mention insurance, hanger rent space and regular maintenance costs.)
It's a trade-off: A friend of mine had one, and after many years he sold it & bought a Cessna 310, and said it was the biggest mistake he ever made, because the 310 was more labor intensive than the 18 ever was.
I got my multi engine in a Beech 18 in 1970 at Embry Riddle. I went from a Cessna 172 to the Beech. There was a lot going on with cowl flaps, oil shutters, etc, but I loved flying it.
So did I...1962, probably the same airplane. A lot of stuff going on after the 172, but 10 hours later...I was a SMEL pilot! Later flying out of Boise, there was a guy from Texas used to come up in his 18. T-Bone Bowman as I recall. He had a place on the Salmon river. He routinely three pointed it and made the mid field taxiway, 1500 feet. Sweet airplane.
Brings back memories. 50 years ago I worked for a fellow who had mail contracts. We used to call gassing and oiling the twin beeches "slopping the hogs." Us lineboys would help load and unload the mail and then ride along. Quite an experience for me as my previous flying was in a C150. We didn't have to ride too long before we got to land and takeoff. Lots of experience gained in a short time with engine failures, total electrical failure, hail, thunderstorms, and ice. I bounced once and that was scary. We always did wheel landings. Rode with Bobby Younkin when he was flying the mail.
Now that brings back memories ! Many years ago I worked for a small operation in Alaska serving Indian villages along the coast and throughout the interior with two Beech 18s. A beautiful classic aircraft with an equally beautiful exhaust note , and an incredible work horse. In regards to the spar AD and required spar strap modification, the aircraft is a known load hauler. In the old days max gross weight was not given the respect shown today. (Understatement) I have always had the suspicion that may have contributed to the original spar issues. A final fond memory - an 18 has a particular scent, the wonderful odor of an old aircraft.
Used to work , jump 195 with same wasp Junior fora decade , 3 blade though , had a beech 18 cargo door gear up on our spot at Airglades 2IS in s fl , cool airplane
In 1974 as a rookie A&P I worked for an air mail contractor that had a dozen 18s. We installed the spar strap too. Many fond and some not so good memories.
Stunning aircraft! It's interesting that just by keeping it in the air for 65 years all the factory paint chips off and the air speed brings the aluminum to full polish. Wink wink.
What a beautiful aircraft! I was fortunate to meet Olive Beech as a young girl several times due to my fathers love for Beechcraft Staggerwings. Thank You for sharing!
Loved the Beech 18. Flew them with car parts in the 70s out of Windsor Ontario Canada then in the high Canadian Arctic ... North of North America, south to Alert... for Bradley Air Services... Loved the airplane! Thank Juan for the memories!
That was probably Methow Aviation out of Paine Field. They had a C-47 that delivered Wall Street Journals to MSO from SEA and we took them to Kalispell, Helena, Great Falls and Billings on the C-45. When the 3 was down or busy elsewhere I would fly the C-45 to SEA and load 3000# of newpapers for transhipment out of Missoula. Methow had a A-26 invader and also had a couple of C-46s for fish hauling in Alaska. It was a great operation. Man, those were the times I loved but not sure I would dare to repeat.
Flew right seat in one of these flying air freight nightly back in the late 60’s. I still remember the noise of flying through a brief hailstorm and getting thrown around against the seat and shoulder straps.
"Out of the clear blue of the western sky comes Sky King" That TV show made me want to become a pilot... and I did become a professional pilot. Thanks Sky!!!
Michael Brown..Yes!! We've seen every episode of Sky Kjng. His first 'Songbird' airplane was that taildragging Cessna UC-78/T-50, with the Jacob radials. Then, they had him fly what my Dad last flew corporately in '63, that Cessna 310B..great airplane. Had Continental 0-470's, Harzell props..Dad had to take an early retirement due to co. selling the plane, and his chronic R.A...there went his flying career, but instructed to pay our mortgage & bills! He had bittersweet opinions of Twin Beeches, mostly good. Certain that most older pilots would share those as well. We also saw in person Mr Kirby Grant M.C. an airshow @ Ryan Field, w. of Tucson, in 1975..Great time there! I'm sure he's passed on!
Flew the G model beech 18 for 10 years back and fourth to Provideniya Russia and all all around alaska for 4,000 hours. Great aircraft! Can’t beat the R 985 PW engine for sound!
I had to go do a little digging to figure out what those levers were below the mixture levers that he was pressing on when trying to get the oil temp up a bit. Those are the “oil shutter” controls. So, I gather that the oil coolers have a separate control from the cowl flaps. Pretty cool. Beautiful plane. Got a chance to ride in one years ago and loved it.
I live just off the departure end of 31 at O61, and enjoy the distinctive sound of this type of aircraft. I remember a ride from Tyndall AFB to Daytona and back in '54 or '55. I really love the distinct sound of the ying yang (C-45, Beech 18.)
Memories. Flew D-18's on a night mail run for an operator in the midwest 1966-68. The 18's were tired but still worked and trustworthy. CGI-MEM-LIT-BVX-JBR. Next night go back the other way. Lot's of stories and a few moments of perspiration.
There's a twin beech that fly's sight-seeing tours out of Van Nuys airport. It's been converted to a turbo-prop. Still cool to see. I have yet to see one fly through a billboard, though.
Growing up as a kid we had a Twin Beech parked at our local airport in Rehoboth Beach. They used it for all kinds of flying there. That airplane had a very distinctive sound a deep roaring throat I knew what it was without looking up. This video brought back fond memories of that old beautiful bird. I never got to ride in her but this is the next best thing!..Thanks Juan, Jimmy for the flight around the pattern..
I heard him say it was used for Skydivng in Canada for awhile. I am an old skydiver who has jumped the Beech 18 many times. I love stepping out the door and onto the wing then running off. It is much easier to get out onto the wing than most people think, especially if you have some external handles or a strap. This one is a gem and I am jealous, nice job on the restoration. Thanks for sharing this one with us Juan.
In the late 70's I use to hang out at the resturant /bar at the Excutive terminal at Salt Lake International. There we a guy with one of these that loved to fly and have a few cocktails, but I loved to go flying with him . Some flight where like in the Mad Mad Mad Mad World . He'd say "take the control kid - it's time for a little toddy" ..... Life was good back then.
My dad was an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force in the late 50s and early 60s and was just telling me that the C-45 9the military version) was his favorite aircraft to work on.
Oh, thank you so much. I knew I knew the airplane. I was a student at Boston University, in 1957, and in the Air Force ROTC, and we got to go up with our instructor, but it was at night, and we had a turn in the cockpit. So I flew this plane. And only later I learned that it was a C-45, and only now, thanks to you, I know that it was a Beech D-18? Whatever. I knew that I knew this airplane. And I have the DVD of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, World," and when I saw the airplane I knew that I knew the airplane. So thanks to you. And as luck would have it I wound up in the army, retired as a colonel, so no more flying for me, but thank you again for reminding me of the airplane that I once flew, if only for a moment.
Wow, that was great. I got to ride in the right seat one night on a mail run in an SMB Stage Lines Beech 18. We flew from Texarkana to Longview, Dallas, and back under IMC with a minimums ILS at Texarkana. I didn’t get to see much outside other than the glow of city lights under the clouds, but I could certainly hear those 985’s. Thanks for the ride..
Having owned a polished aluminum aircraft in the past (Sonex), I can only imagine the work involved in keeping that beauty looking pristine. What a lovely piece of aviation.
I have some time behind an R-985 in Beavers. Lovely sound. Used to taxi out with the side window slid down and the headset slid partly off my left ear. Two at a time sound even better. Nice to see the love and respect rubbed on that classic airplane.
Great video and beautiful aircraft! I retired after 41 years with AA in 2019, flew left seat on MD80, 757, 767, 777, 787 - Tell Jimmy not to give up on letting go of that beautiful twin Beech, retirement isn't the end of things it's just another interesting chapter in your life. Where there's a will theres a way! Best wishes to all of you!
I worked line service while in high school (50+ years ago) at an airport that had a Super 18 based there. If I remember correctly, it took 80/87 octane and I added oil in gallon cans rather than quarts. I always savored the sound of those Pratts and prop pitch change after takeoff. The non-pilot owner eventually sold it for a King Air.
Gorgeous old Twin Beech D-18! Our dad, Sam A. Burkes, Jr, flew a Beech D-18 for Doubleday Publishing Co. in the early 50's out of LaGuardia, NYC. Then took on another corp.pilot job with Coats & Clark Threads, flying a Beech Super 18/E-18 also out of LaGuardia. He had told us they were great airplanes, could carry a load, but you had to 'stay ahead of them', being of the nature they were. Always had to fly them, could be tricky on landing, 'specially in crosswinds. He was also a cert. A&E mechanic, worked on his own planes, specially those P&W Wasp Jr, R-985s!! He loved his work! I went up in the E-18 a couple times, never flew in the Doubleday D-18. Think that was built in 1948. His last corp. piloting job was flying a Cessna 310B for Orion Aviation also out of LaGuardia, erstwhile out of Newark. They sold the 310B, he retired early, was arthritic..Great, iconic airplanes! Would just love to fly in one sgain. I'm 72, don't know how much longer I'll be around. Maybe I'll get the chance. Thanks for great video!!
In the 50s I used to bike to a local private airport. One of the few hangars had one of these that came and went a lot. The days they flew, I could wait for hours to be able to get an earful as that White & green beauty made it's music as it lifted off the grass strip.
The Hamilton Standard Propellers for the Beech 18 use a pump for feathering and unfeathering. The rear mounted propeller governor is mounted on the gun synchronizer pad on the P&W 985 then though external tubes to the front of engine. The Hamilton Standard AD for inspecting the blade shanks for corrosion pitting is required because the propeller acts like a centrifuge and slings all of the garbage material that builds up in the oil put to sit around the blade shank around the seal. I have seen the blades with about 1/8 inch of corrosion pits in the area that developed in less than 18 months; the operator was using AV Gas. I have also seen what happens when a blade actual has failed in the shank, the blade comes off and you go down now, no five second count to see what the problem is, thankfully the pilot survived.
The closest I came to a D-18 was when I got to run-up the engines of a C-45 at an A&P school in Ft. Worth TX to adjust the carbon pile voltage regulators. Just running the engines felt special. Frank Tallman had a heck of a time with that billboard scene. The wing leading edge got banged up and debris blocked the air intake on one engine causing it to shut down. He landed single engine IFE.
Beautiful. Unfortunately I've never been in an 18, but for many years our family owned a WWII surplus Crocker-Wheeler training gun turret which were sometimes mounted in an AT-11, training version of a Beech 18
I worked in the factory that made this plane. Never flew it though but I did fly other Beech planes. They had a flying club that was pretty good. Five bucks an hour to solo a 140. Most FBOs were charging seven.
Once again, loved this informative video. Already knew quite a bit about these old, classic Twin Beech 18's, learned more watching this...And, oh man, those sounds of the P&W Wasp Jr's, the Ham. Std. props, and the exhaust sounds. Wish Dad was alive to relive these sequences!! He'd get a kick out of it! Thank you gentlemen for this vid.!!
+1 As an aside to that, the scene when they flew through the hanger and the billboard was shot at the Santa Rosa airport (STS). That hanger is still there and can be viewed from the road. Next to the airport a short distance is an air museum that has more film related stuff. The stunt pilot, Frank Tallman, said that he was only going to do that stunt once, so the film crew had to capture the moment in one take. I have seen that hanger and it isn't very big. You really had to know what you were doing to fly through that. And who would want to fly a propeller driven aircraft through a billboard? It was crazy and amazing action. The stuff of legends.
@@TalladegaTom Frank Tallman built a replica of the Spirit St Louis from the original plans. He did some of his best work including flying his replica Spirit of St. Louis ( Lindbergh asked for a plane that was hard to fly to help him stay awake) with one leg. He lost a leg to infection from an accident in his driveway playing with his kids and walked with a prosthetic and flew without.
@@TalladegaTom Frank Tallman died from conditions Juan Brown has talked about. On a VFR ferry flight IFR conditions developed. There was a mountain higher than his cruising altitude. He was unable to avoid terrain he couldn't see.
@@TalladegaTom ..... bent the props , crushed the leading edges almost back to the spars - the movie construction crew used the wrong material for the billboard and as a result it was like flying through a brick wall - Frank managed to get the airplane back on the ground but nearly crashed - scared him badly.
You are bringing back memories. when I was about 12 years old we went to Hawaii. My dad got us a plane ride around the island in a Beech h18. I got to ride in the co-pilot's seat the whole time. The pilot let me fly the damn thing. Memories
1984 We did a hop from HON to Maui for a day trip. Our plane was a well used Beech 18. It was a couple months before I started flight training so the pilot stuck me in the co-pilot seat. Pilot was a petite nervous guy who chainsmoked but his persona matched the patina of the plane. Didn't take long to see most of the instruments did not work, the ones that weren't missing anyway. But it got us to Maui noisy but cramped and back again.
Sigh, memories of close to a a thousand hours driving a C-45 across Washington, Idaho, and Montana on a freight and night mail run. That airplane was truly a workhorse, and a thorobred at that. That particular aircraft was fitted with 12:1 blowers which made it possible (most of the time) to maintain MEAs across the mountains of Idaho and Montana.
When I was a young pilot with a A&P working at the Plymouth Airport I got to fly in Bob Trinque's Beech C45. All the passengers draw straws for the copilot seat & I got lucky. Bob actually let me have the controls at attitude. My plane was a Cessna 140 & I had alot of time in my Dad's Maule. But nothing compared to those 900 horsepower engines. I can thank Bob for a great memory. 🙂
Thank Juan! That was a very enjoyable 36 minutes. If it wasn’t for the spar AD there world be many more Beach 18s flying. Spar must run right behind the pilots, separating pilots and passengers. A brilliant idea, a welded tubular spar. Weight saver and strong. Maybe with today’s MIG welders the welds would have lasted longer.
We had one in Casper as a jump plane. 27.5 thou, loaded, no problem and no O2 in the back, tunnel vision is real. Dirt runway(HAD), no problem. Like the DC-3, cost is low relative to modern turboprops of the same class, but, still a lot as a Heavy Sport Aircraft, but cheaper by the seat. PS, note the Radar nose and some had deicer boots, top notch in the day.
was a passenger in a B-18 once, in the cargo/seating area, no seats skydive plane and the pilot rolled it. damned good pilot. killed in alaska flying fish in a DC-3. really nice guy too.
The hanger they flew through for the movie is still standing at Sonoma County / STS. Now part of Pacific Coast Air Museum PCAM. Great video Juan and beautiful plane. Thanks all for sharing
I wish I could have taken a photo in the engine shop at Kenmore Air in Kenmore WA. I couldn't believe there were THAT many R-985 jugs in one location! What a beautiful sight (and a beautiful round engine). Thanks!
6:22 and 6:28 “Look at this” and “look at that” we’re looking! We’re looking! And we’re drooling right there with ya! I love how you took your aluminum girl to visit the Beech instead of the fabric one! Also funny how you said you’ll land long, then proceed to squeak it on the numbers! Haha!
Thank's for the great memory's! First airplane,I manipulated the controls on,as a little boy,thanks to Captain George Parmenter ,at Cape & Islands Airways,I had to sit on a large Jeppesen binder to see over the instrument panel. My first "Airliner" worked on,as a newly minted A&P mechanic,was another fine Beech product,The C-99,at Bar harbor Airlines.
I used to jump a Beech 18 out of Cal City back in the '80's.. Love the sound of those engines! The period background music made the whole thing Juan! Awesome! What a pretty bird.
Thank you for giving me this trip back in time! In the late 60's and early 70's I flew G and E models all around the country delivering sensitive material for the government...even brought a part of Alan Shepard's space suit to Cape Canaveral. It was a fun airplane to fly with an autopilot that only occasionally worked and a radar that only worked when it was clear :). The expression at the time was, "You're not a real pilot unless you've flown a Beech 18 around the Northeast in the wintertime"!! I ended up retiring off the 767-400 for a major carrier, but some of the best flying I did was in the Beech...thanks for the memories!
I used to fly one of those things with Garret turboprops on it, hauling freight in Alaska. What a beast! I also flew a round-engined one with tricycle gear as well. Sweet aircraft!
Awesome! Fantastic! Gorgeous Bird! Living 5 miles from Windsor Locks and 15 from East Hartford it did my heart good to see those beautiful HSD props mounted to those mighty P&WA engines! I love that sound from the cockpit or overhead. It seems so weird that those biggish Pratts only cruised her at 150 when only 10 years later a pair of 210 horse Continentals pushed a Baron along at 210 knots. Oh, how aviation jumped ahead in the sixties and seventies. I sure do have a special place in my heart for AA pilots. Have a fabulous day guys. SDH the Great Unknown in CT (Simsbury Airport and BDL)
I used to be based out of Mather. I would shoot the RNAV RWY5 at Placerville, fill up, (great fuel prices) then shoot the ILS 22L back at Mather. Two approaches in no time....
That was painful, thanks I think. When I was a kid one of my chores was taking out the screws for those spar-straps on 18's a DC-3's by hand, maybe that's why mechanically I can be ambidextrous. I've flown one of those briefly, I really like the full windscreen, has a whole different feel to it. Oh, and taking the flooring apart for inspections was always something to look forward to, not. Lost a friend to one, flew into a mountain not long after seeing him off. Riches to rags is never fun, but I sure did a lot that most could never even dream about.
Great video Juan...sure miss ours. My dad owned several 18s. The most memorable were a ‘48 D18s and ‘56 E18s. Many many adventures we took in those planes....from Baja to British Columbia and all kinds of places in between. It was the ultimate family SUV!
Thanks for the memories... flew a D18S one summer 480 hours to/from Canada bush hauling fishermen.... it had short stacks and grossed 10200# gross... about 4000# useful load as I recall.. loved every minute.... nose baggage could hold 2 duffel bags of fish. Really helped keep CG forward
Thank you, Juan! Nice to meet some of 'those magnificent men in their flying machines.' The flying scenes from "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World" were incredible, and no computer generated graphics back then. They really flew one of these through a hanger!
Thanks for the great video. Brings back many memories when I flew an 18 for Apollo Airways in a night cencelled check operation out of Detroit City airport. Fine airplane. Great ice carrier in the wintertrime but a lousy ineffectiuve heater. The other pilots flew the ship with the muff heaters.
A real beauty Juan - surprised tho it is only twin props instead of three, although seems very adequate as is. Fascinating to hear the history etc and, what a sound from those radials.. 42 galls/hr - ouch!
I think the best sounding twin aircraft ever ! Growing up close to city airport , Detroit They flew freight for the Auto companys , watching one fly over I'd stop and enjoy always . Bill , By the way there was no computer graphics in the movie they flew it !
Nice video Juan. Nothing better than tail draggin' radials. Only thing better is 2 radials. Might have to drop in with my C195 and say," Hi". Cheers, Bravo Charlie (AA/LAX)
Gotta give up the expensive toys when you retire! Someone is going to own a beautiful airplane in another year and a half. Mark at Sykwagons, please make sure this beauty ends up with a good home!
Thank you, Juan! My old bones cheered with this one. Excellent video...all the questions were spot on and the answers concise. Some vids I listen to, but yours I have to watch. My father (he listened to Lindbergs landing on a crystal set, waaay past his bedtime...he signed up Dec 9, 1042 and flew "a few" missions) would have been an avid supporter of your approach and love of aviation. My mother (an student-nominated award winning "best teacher" for more years than we can count) would second that! Me, a retired private pilot and teacher, say, "Thank you for your willingness to dedicate the time to record, EDIT, and upload these videos." My prayer is that, some night over a black, you'll know how much you bless us. Journey mercies.
What A Beauty! - I believe that this aircraft model was used in the opening scene of the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy. I was in high school then (10th grade).
I worked tor the local Beechcraft distributor at KDTN in Shreveport in the late '50s and early'60s. Back then, before the jets became common, the Twin Beech was the gold standard for corporate transportation. It was faster than the airlines to travel point to point between small towns. The last model I remember was the E-18S-9700. It was easy to spot because of the 3 bladed props. A beautiful, fast airplane that held its own until it was replaced by the jets.
She's a beauty!! Every time I see one, it reminds my when I was a child. My Aunt and Uncle took my brother an I (I was probably Pete's age), To see It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World in Boston. I was one of those Cinematic surround movie theaters. I remember feeling the motion of the plane flying. Still a great movie. In fact I just watched it a few weeks ago.. Thanks, Mark
![[กูเพิ่งซื้อมึงปิดหนี] 20 นาที ผมรีวิวเกมที่แย่ที่สุดในโลก CONCORD](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XhC-3q3Ii7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I started skydiving in 1975, and the Beech 18 was one of the most common multi engined jumpships back then.
Hundreds and hundreds of one way rides for me in 18's
Yep, that ole’ “hindsight” thing again…, it will get you every time…
In the US Army in 1968, I got to fly as co-pilot in one of these. As a rotary wing aviator, it was like a luxury cruise! The first thing the AC told me was: If you have to land this plane, wheel landing only! He told me the same thing as the owner of this one, the wing blankets the tail in a 3 pointer and makes the rudders ineffective. I logged about 100 hours in this model, before they turned it in for salvage. It was replaced with another Beech, this time a U-21 with turboprops and all the modern features...
Props (pun intended) for the photo of Buddy Hackett, Jim Backus, and Mickey Rooney in the cockpit. That is one of the best movies ever made.
Great movie! 1963. I think I first saw it in about 1969 when I was about 4 years old at a Cinerama theater in Southern California. My favorite part was the Beech 18 scene! Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney trying to fly that thing was hilarious! Great impression there of Jim Backus! (Of course, I didn’t get all the jokes at 4 years old.)
Rooney: Old fashioneds? Do you think you oughtta drink while you’re flying?
Backus: Well stop kidding, will ya, and make us some drinks! You just press the button back there marked “booze”. It’s the ooonly way to fly.
Backus: There. Who says this ol’ boy can’t fly? Now I’m going to make us some Old Fashioneds the old fashioned way.
Hackett: What if something happens?
Backus: What can happen to an Old Fashioned?
What movie was that??
@@Andrew-13579 hi, ARTHUR GODFREY did own a DC3, got in trouble buzzing the tower @ TEB,, TETERBORO NJ Cheers 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@balsumfractus "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" from 1963, with a long list of stars from the 30's 40's and 50's. Even the Three Stooges made an appearance in it.
@@balsumfractus The movie name was It’a A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
The 18 was my first flying job back in 1977. Spent a little over 2800 hours in them and was in love the whole time. Granted, night freight wasn't as glamorous as that beautifully restored machine looks to be.
Where was your base that you flew out of Jake?
@@bigjeff1291 Mostly Ace Air Cargo in Cleveland but also flew a bit for Buffalo Aeronautical.
A sincere « thank you » to these 2 gentlemen for their contribution to make this sort of legacy beauty to still be part of live aviation.
That was my thought as well. THANK YOU!
“ how do we know the tail wheel is locked ?” Lmao
Learning that only about 300 of these beautiful planes are flying, I'm definitely thankful that these folks have put in the massive effort and expense to care for this plane. Also fantastic that they're generous in sharing it like this!
@@nwanchorcertification The handle when free points East and West and is up, as the tail wheel straightens, point the handle North and South ( Parallel with the Fuselage ) and push down, it will lock in place.
OMG...!
Kinda brought tears to my 58yrs young eyes, to hear him say that the plane goes when he retires...
I would have thought that a guy would be flying the wings off that plane upon retirement...
I do however have a little insight/understanding (thanks to Mr. Browne’s channel) as to what it takes, money wise, to own one of these beauties let alone keep them in the air...
Thank you Juan, and to the owner, a great ride.
Oh yeah - Fuel burn on the Beech 18 is in the neighborhood of 40 gallons per hour. I'm sure the annual inspections run over $4000.00 per year. At $4.21 per gallon it takes a major airline pilots salary to pay for keeping that bird healthy! (not to mention insurance, hanger rent space and regular maintenance costs.)
It's a trade-off:
A friend of mine had one, and after many years he sold it & bought a Cessna 310, and said it was the biggest mistake he ever made, because the 310 was more labor intensive than the 18 ever was.
What a magnificent airplane and work of art those Beech 18’s are.
I got my multi engine in a Beech 18 in 1970 at Embry Riddle. I went from a Cessna 172 to the Beech. There was a lot going on with cowl flaps, oil shutters, etc, but I loved flying it.
So did I...1962, probably the same airplane. A lot of stuff going on after the 172, but 10 hours later...I was a SMEL pilot! Later flying out of Boise, there was a guy from Texas used to come up in his 18. T-Bone Bowman as I recall. He had a place on the Salmon river. He routinely three pointed it and made the mid field taxiway, 1500 feet. Sweet airplane.
That polished aluminum is stunning. I wish my kitchen looked this clean.
Brings back memories. 50 years ago I worked for a fellow who had mail contracts. We used to call gassing and oiling the twin beeches "slopping the hogs." Us lineboys would help load and unload the mail and then ride along. Quite an experience for me as my previous flying was in a C150. We didn't have to ride too long before we got to land and takeoff. Lots of experience gained in a short time with engine failures, total electrical failure, hail, thunderstorms, and ice. I bounced once and that was scary. We always did wheel landings. Rode with Bobby Younkin when he was flying the mail.
Wow!! You had quite the life experiences with those great airplanes! Like my Dad did for a while in the 50's & early 60's!
Now that brings back memories ! Many years ago I worked for a small operation in Alaska serving Indian villages along the coast and throughout the interior with two Beech 18s. A beautiful classic aircraft with an equally beautiful exhaust note , and an incredible work horse. In regards to the spar AD and required spar strap modification, the aircraft is a known load hauler. In the old days max gross weight was not given the respect shown today. (Understatement) I have always had the suspicion that may have contributed to the original spar issues.
A final fond memory - an 18 has a particular scent, the wonderful odor of an old aircraft.
Totally agree, you would bulk out before gross out...
Used to work , jump 195 with same wasp Junior fora decade , 3 blade though , had a beech 18 cargo door gear up on our spot at Airglades 2IS in s fl , cool airplane
In 1974 as a rookie A&P I worked for an air mail contractor that had a dozen 18s. We installed the spar strap too. Many fond and some not so good memories.
Stunning aircraft! It's interesting that just by keeping it in the air for 65 years all the factory paint chips off and the air speed brings the aluminum to full polish. Wink wink.
What a beautiful aircraft! I was fortunate to meet Olive Beech as a young girl several times due to my fathers love for Beechcraft Staggerwings. Thank You for sharing!
Beech Staggerwings are the most beautiful civilian aircraft ever built, IMO!
TreeTop
Loved the Beech 18. Flew them with car parts in the 70s out of Windsor Ontario Canada then in the high Canadian Arctic ... North of North America, south to Alert... for Bradley Air Services... Loved the airplane! Thank Juan for the memories!
I was working for ABX at BFI in 2002 and one of the feeders was operating B18s daily. Pretty cool planes.
That was probably Methow Aviation out of Paine Field. They had a C-47 that delivered Wall Street Journals to MSO from SEA and we took them to Kalispell, Helena, Great Falls and Billings on the C-45. When the 3 was down or busy elsewhere I would fly the C-45 to SEA and load 3000# of newpapers for transhipment out of Missoula. Methow had a A-26 invader and also had a couple of C-46s for fish hauling in Alaska. It was a great operation. Man, those were the times I loved but not sure I would dare to repeat.
@@oldtugs Pretty cool. Thanks for the details. I just remember really being in awe.
Flew right seat in one of these flying air freight nightly back in the late 60’s. I still remember the noise of flying through a brief hailstorm and getting thrown around against the seat and shoulder straps.
"Out of the clear blue of the western sky comes Sky King" That TV show made me want to become a pilot... and I did become a professional pilot. Thanks Sky!!!
Michael Brown..Yes!! We've seen every episode of Sky Kjng. His first 'Songbird' airplane was that taildragging Cessna UC-78/T-50, with the Jacob radials. Then, they had him fly what my Dad last flew corporately in '63, that Cessna 310B..great airplane. Had Continental 0-470's, Harzell props..Dad had to take an early retirement due to co. selling the plane, and his chronic R.A...there went his flying career, but instructed to pay our mortgage & bills! He had bittersweet opinions of Twin Beeches, mostly good. Certain that most older pilots would share those as well.
We also saw in person Mr Kirby Grant M.C. an airshow @ Ryan Field, w. of Tucson, in 1975..Great time there! I'm sure he's passed on!
Flew the G model beech 18 for 10 years back and fourth to Provideniya Russia and all all around alaska for 4,000 hours.
Great aircraft! Can’t beat the R 985 PW engine for sound!
I had to go do a little digging to figure out what those levers were below the mixture levers that he was pressing on when trying to get the oil temp up a bit. Those are the “oil shutter” controls. So, I gather that the oil coolers have a separate control from the cowl flaps. Pretty cool. Beautiful plane. Got a chance to ride in one years ago and loved it.
The Beechcraft D-18 is one of the most beautiful aircraft! Its one of my all time favorites. Along with the Lockheed Electra L-10E.
Hey, no kablamo, smooth as butter landing. Beautiful shiny object.
Caught the third wire! At least the deck wasn't pitching too much.
I live just off the departure end of 31 at O61, and enjoy the distinctive sound of this type of aircraft. I remember a ride from Tyndall AFB to Daytona and back in '54 or '55. I really love the distinct sound of the ying yang (C-45, Beech 18.)
Memories. Flew D-18's on a night mail run for an operator in the midwest 1966-68. The 18's were tired but still worked and trustworthy. CGI-MEM-LIT-BVX-JBR. Next night go back the other way. Lot's of stories and a few moments of perspiration.
There's a twin beech that fly's sight-seeing tours out of Van Nuys airport. It's been converted to a turbo-prop. Still cool to see. I have yet to see one fly through a billboard, though.
Back in 1980, I was a young lad fixing a couple of those in cargo versions. Never saw one with seats, cool airplane!
Growing up as a kid we had a Twin Beech parked at our local airport in Rehoboth Beach. They used it for all kinds of flying there. That airplane had a very distinctive sound a deep roaring throat I knew what it was without looking up. This video brought back fond memories of that old beautiful bird. I never got to ride in her but this is the next best thing!..Thanks Juan, Jimmy for the flight around the pattern..
I heard him say it was used for Skydivng in Canada for awhile. I am an old skydiver who has jumped the Beech 18 many times. I love stepping out the door and onto the wing then running off. It is much easier to get out onto the wing than most people think, especially if you have some external handles or a strap. This one is a gem and I am jealous, nice job on the restoration. Thanks for sharing this one with us Juan.
In the late 70's I use to hang out at the resturant /bar at the Excutive terminal at Salt Lake International. There we a guy with one of these that loved to fly and have a few cocktails, but I loved to go flying with him . Some flight where like in the Mad Mad Mad Mad World . He'd say "take the control kid - it's time for a little toddy" ..... Life was good back then.
My dad was an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force in the late 50s and early 60s and was just telling me that the C-45 9the military version) was his favorite aircraft to work on.
Oh, thank you so much. I knew I knew the airplane. I was a student at Boston University, in 1957, and in the Air Force ROTC, and we got to go up with our instructor, but it was at night, and we had a turn in the cockpit. So I flew this plane. And only later I learned that it was a C-45, and only now, thanks to you, I know that it was a Beech D-18? Whatever. I knew that I knew this airplane. And I have the DVD of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, World," and when I saw the airplane I knew that I knew the airplane. So thanks to you. And as luck would have it I wound up in the army, retired as a colonel, so no more flying for me, but thank you again for reminding me of the airplane that I once flew, if only for a moment.
Wow, that was great. I got to ride in the right seat one night on a mail run in an SMB Stage Lines Beech 18. We flew from Texarkana to Longview, Dallas, and back under IMC with a minimums ILS at Texarkana. I didn’t get to see much outside other than the glow of city lights under the clouds, but I could certainly hear those 985’s. Thanks for the ride..
Having owned a polished aluminum aircraft in the past (Sonex), I can only imagine the work involved in keeping that beauty looking pristine. What a lovely piece of aviation.
Far and away, the best float plane I flew. I loved the twin Beech. This is a spectacular aircraft.
I have some time behind an R-985 in Beavers. Lovely sound. Used to taxi out with the side window slid down and the headset slid partly off my left ear. Two at a time sound even better. Nice to see the love and respect rubbed on that classic airplane.
Great video and beautiful aircraft! I retired after 41 years with AA in 2019, flew left seat on MD80, 757, 767, 777, 787 - Tell Jimmy not to give up on letting go of that beautiful twin Beech, retirement isn't the end of things it's just another interesting chapter in your life. Where there's a will theres a way! Best wishes to all of you!
Hey Ron! Thanks, will do.
Hey Ron, respects to you on a magnificent career. Of all those beautiful ladies you left seated, which one is #1 in you heart?
Beautiful aircraft had all the bells and whistles for its day,good to see one still flying instead of being in a museum some where .
I worked line service while in high school (50+ years ago) at an airport that had a Super 18 based there. If I remember correctly, it took 80/87 octane and I added oil in gallon cans rather than quarts. I always savored the sound of those Pratts and prop pitch change after takeoff. The non-pilot owner eventually sold it for a King Air.
Gorgeous old Twin Beech D-18! Our dad, Sam A. Burkes, Jr, flew a Beech D-18 for Doubleday Publishing Co. in the early 50's out of LaGuardia, NYC. Then took on another corp.pilot job with Coats & Clark Threads, flying a Beech Super 18/E-18 also out of LaGuardia. He had told us they were great airplanes, could carry a load, but you had to 'stay ahead of them', being of the nature they were. Always had to fly them, could be tricky on landing, 'specially in crosswinds. He was also a cert. A&E mechanic, worked on his own planes, specially those P&W Wasp Jr, R-985s!! He loved his work! I went up in the E-18 a couple times, never flew in the Doubleday D-18. Think that was built in 1948. His last corp. piloting job was flying a Cessna 310B for Orion Aviation also out of LaGuardia, erstwhile out of Newark. They sold the 310B, he retired early, was arthritic..Great, iconic airplanes! Would just love to fly in one sgain. I'm 72, don't know how much longer I'll be around. Maybe I'll get the chance. Thanks for great video!!
In the 50s I used to bike to a local private airport. One of the few hangars had one of these that came and went a lot. The days they flew, I could wait for hours to be able to get an earful as that White & green beauty made it's music as it lifted off the grass strip.
The Hamilton Standard Propellers for the Beech 18 use a pump for feathering and unfeathering. The rear mounted propeller governor is mounted on the gun synchronizer pad on the P&W 985 then though external tubes to the front of engine. The Hamilton Standard AD for inspecting the blade shanks for corrosion pitting is required because the propeller acts like a centrifuge and slings all of the garbage material that builds up in the oil put to sit around the blade shank around the seal. I have seen the blades with about 1/8 inch of corrosion pits in the area that developed in less than 18 months; the operator was using AV Gas. I have also seen what happens when a blade actual has failed in the shank, the blade comes off and you go down now, no five second count to see what the problem is, thankfully the pilot survived.
The closest I came to a D-18 was when I got to run-up the engines of a C-45 at an A&P school in Ft. Worth TX to adjust the carbon pile voltage regulators. Just running the engines felt special. Frank Tallman had a heck of a time with that billboard scene. The wing leading edge got banged up and debris blocked the air intake on one engine causing it to shut down. He landed single engine IFE.
Beautiful. Unfortunately I've never been in an 18, but for many years our family owned a WWII surplus Crocker-Wheeler training gun turret which were sometimes mounted in an AT-11, training version of a Beech 18
The look and sound of that low fly-by! So beautiful
I kept looking for the sign that he was going to fly through
That was the highlight right there!
I worked in the factory that made this plane. Never flew it though but I did fly other Beech planes. They had a flying club that was pretty good. Five bucks an hour to solo a 140. Most FBOs were charging seven.
The twin Beech was my first love. We had one sitting at our small grass airfield and every time i went by I admired this beauty.
Once again, loved this informative video. Already knew quite a bit about these old, classic Twin Beech 18's, learned more watching this...And, oh man, those sounds of the P&W Wasp Jr's, the Ham. Std. props, and the exhaust sounds. Wish Dad was alive to relive these sequences!! He'd get a kick out of it! Thank you gentlemen for this vid.!!
Frankly we are enjoying your furlough as much as you are. Thanks for sharing.
He is certainly enjoying himself.
Perfect cover photo! After all, we’re living in a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World!
+1 As an aside to that, the scene when they flew through the hanger and the billboard was shot at the Santa Rosa airport (STS). That hanger is still there and can be viewed from the road. Next to the airport a short distance is an air museum that has more film related stuff. The stunt pilot, Frank Tallman, said that he was only going to do that stunt once, so the film crew had to capture the moment in one take. I have seen that hanger and it isn't very big. You really had to know what you were doing to fly through that. And who would want to fly a propeller driven aircraft through a billboard? It was crazy and amazing action. The stuff of legends.
One of the all time best film's ever!!!
@@TalladegaTom Frank Tallman built a replica of the Spirit St Louis from the original plans. He did some of his best work including flying his replica Spirit of St. Louis ( Lindbergh asked for a plane that was hard to fly to help him stay awake) with one leg. He lost a leg to infection from an accident in his driveway playing with his kids and walked with a prosthetic and flew without.
@@TalladegaTom Frank Tallman died from conditions Juan Brown has talked about. On a VFR ferry flight IFR conditions developed. There was a mountain higher than his cruising altitude. He was unable to avoid terrain he couldn't see.
@@TalladegaTom ..... bent the props , crushed the leading edges almost back to the spars - the movie construction crew used the wrong material for the billboard and as a result it was like flying through a brick wall - Frank managed to get the airplane back on the ground but nearly crashed - scared him badly.
You are bringing back memories.
when I was about 12 years old we went to Hawaii. My dad got us a plane ride around the island in a Beech h18. I got to ride in the co-pilot's seat the whole time.
The pilot let me fly the damn thing. Memories
1984 We did a hop from HON to Maui for a day trip. Our plane was a well used Beech 18. It was a couple months before I started flight training so the pilot stuck me in the co-pilot seat. Pilot was a petite nervous guy who chainsmoked but his persona matched the patina of the plane. Didn't take long to see most of the instruments did not work, the ones that weren't missing anyway. But it got us to Maui noisy but cramped and back again.
How cool to watch these guys who fly for work, fly for fun, and take us along. Thanks.
Sigh, memories of close to a a thousand hours driving a C-45 across Washington, Idaho, and Montana on a freight and night mail run. That airplane was truly a workhorse, and a thorobred at that. That particular aircraft was fitted with 12:1 blowers which made it possible (most of the time) to maintain MEAs across the mountains of Idaho and Montana.
*minimum en-route altitude.
My dad flew the c-47 for the montana civil air patrol in the late 40s and 50s helena montana. You probably remember the big quake.
Juan you got the touch...you grease that gear down, no bump. You are a great pilot...
When I was a young pilot with a A&P working at the Plymouth Airport I got to fly in Bob Trinque's Beech C45. All the passengers draw straws for the copilot seat & I got lucky. Bob actually let me have the controls at attitude. My plane was a Cessna 140 & I had alot of time in my Dad's Maule. But nothing compared to those 900 horsepower engines. I can thank Bob for a great memory. 🙂
Thank Juan! That was a very enjoyable 36 minutes. If it wasn’t for the spar AD there world be many more Beach 18s flying. Spar must run right behind the pilots, separating pilots and passengers.
A brilliant idea, a welded tubular spar. Weight saver and strong. Maybe with today’s MIG welders the welds would have lasted longer.
We had one in Casper as a jump plane. 27.5 thou, loaded, no problem and no O2 in the back, tunnel vision is real. Dirt runway(HAD), no problem. Like the DC-3, cost is low relative to modern turboprops of the same class, but, still a lot as a Heavy Sport Aircraft, but cheaper by the seat. PS, note the Radar nose and some had deicer boots, top notch in the day.
We have another one in Casper now.
was a passenger in a B-18 once, in the cargo/seating area, no seats skydive plane and the pilot rolled it. damned good pilot. killed in alaska flying fish in a DC-3. really nice guy too.
His first flight back at work, he is going to look over and say:
"Let's go for a wheel landing."
The hanger they flew through for the movie is still standing at Sonoma County / STS. Now part of Pacific Coast Air Museum PCAM.
Great video Juan and beautiful plane. Thanks all for sharing
We had B-18 in Yellowknife, NT. Beautiful bird!
I love the sound of those engines in every phase of flight.
I wish I could have taken a photo in the engine shop at Kenmore Air in Kenmore WA. I couldn't believe there were THAT many R-985 jugs in one location! What a beautiful sight (and a beautiful round engine). Thanks!
6:22 and 6:28 “Look at this” and “look at that” we’re looking! We’re looking! And we’re drooling right there with ya! I love how you took your aluminum girl to visit the Beech instead of the fabric one! Also funny how you said you’ll land long, then proceed to squeak it on the numbers! Haha!
Thank's for the great memory's! First airplane,I manipulated the controls on,as a little boy,thanks to Captain George Parmenter ,at Cape & Islands Airways,I had to sit on a large Jeppesen binder to see over the instrument panel. My first "Airliner" worked on,as a newly minted A&P mechanic,was another fine Beech product,The C-99,at Bar harbor Airlines.
I used to jump a Beech 18 out of Cal City back in the '80's.. Love the sound of those engines!
The period background music made the whole thing Juan! Awesome! What a pretty bird.
Thank you for giving me this trip back in time! In the late 60's and early 70's I flew G and E models all around the country delivering sensitive material for the government...even brought a part of Alan Shepard's space suit to Cape Canaveral. It was a fun airplane to fly with an autopilot that only occasionally worked and a radar that only worked when it was clear :). The expression at the time was, "You're not a real pilot unless you've flown a Beech 18 around the Northeast in the wintertime"!! I ended up retiring off the 767-400 for a major carrier, but some of the best flying I did was in the Beech...thanks for the memories!
I used to fly one of those things with Garret turboprops on it, hauling freight in Alaska. What a beast! I also flew a round-engined one with tricycle gear as well. Sweet aircraft!
Awesome! Fantastic! Gorgeous Bird! Living 5 miles from Windsor Locks and 15 from East Hartford it did my heart good to see those beautiful HSD props mounted to those mighty P&WA engines! I love that sound from the cockpit or overhead. It seems so weird that those biggish Pratts only cruised her at 150 when only 10 years later a pair of 210 horse Continentals pushed a Baron along at 210 knots. Oh, how aviation jumped ahead in the sixties and seventies. I sure do have a special place in my heart for AA pilots. Have a fabulous day guys. SDH the Great Unknown in CT (Simsbury Airport and BDL)
We had a C45 at A&P school. Loved that Twin Beech!
SMAT? in Lowell, MI? 24C?
@@natielou143 nope, Portland Community College in Oregon.
Thanks Jimmy & Paul & Juan for taking us along in a magnificent Twin Beechcraft.
I used to be based out of Mather. I would shoot the RNAV RWY5 at Placerville, fill up, (great fuel prices) then shoot the ILS 22L back at Mather. Two approaches in no time....
That was painful, thanks I think. When I was a kid one of my chores was taking out the screws for those spar-straps on 18's a DC-3's by hand, maybe that's why mechanically I can be ambidextrous. I've flown one of those briefly, I really like the full windscreen, has a whole different feel to it. Oh, and taking the flooring apart for inspections was always something to look forward to, not. Lost a friend to one, flew into a mountain not long after seeing him off. Riches to rags is never fun, but I sure did a lot that most could never even dream about.
Great video Juan...sure miss ours. My dad owned several 18s. The most memorable were a ‘48 D18s and ‘56 E18s. Many many adventures we took in those planes....from Baja to British Columbia and all kinds of places in between. It was the ultimate family SUV!
One of the best sounding flying machines out there. Beech 18 on floats is even more fun btw.
I watched a twin Beech on floats do a engine run up, it almost tore the dock down!
Way Cool, Love the Wheelies. See Red biplane pass by windscreen, gotta be a Pitts. But no looks like a Stolp? Maybe Single place Acroduster? rare...
Well that fun. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the memories... flew a D18S one summer 480 hours to/from Canada bush hauling fishermen.... it had short stacks and grossed 10200# gross... about 4000# useful load as I recall.. loved every minute.... nose baggage could hold 2 duffel bags of fish. Really helped keep CG forward
And there I was thinking that I would never be interested in a twin. What a machine...
Thank you, Juan! Nice to meet some of 'those magnificent men in their flying machines.' The flying scenes from "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World" were incredible, and no computer generated graphics back then. They really flew one of these through a hanger!
Yep!
@@blancolirio I had a friend who was personal friends with Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz.
It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World is coming on TCM in a day or two.. You can get a good view of a Twin Beach starring in the movie.
today is the day! i think it started at 2pm! I'm recording it!
What a gorgeous bird. It's a keeper.
Thanks for the great video. Brings back many memories when I flew an 18 for Apollo Airways in a night cencelled check operation out of Detroit City airport. Fine airplane. Great ice carrier in the wintertrime but a lousy ineffectiuve heater. The other pilots flew the ship with the muff heaters.
"If you're in it for the money you're in the wrong game". That's a true story, Paul. What a gorgeous plane. Thanks Juan.
A real beauty Juan - surprised tho it is only twin props instead of three, although seems very adequate as is. Fascinating to hear the history etc and, what a sound from those radials.. 42 galls/hr - ouch!
What great bunch of guys!
I think the best sounding twin aircraft ever ! Growing up close to city airport , Detroit They flew freight for the Auto companys , watching one fly over I'd stop and enjoy always . Bill , By the way there was no computer graphics in the movie they flew it !
A thing of beauty is a joy forever - John Keats describing a Beech 18. 🥰
Nice video Juan. Nothing better than tail draggin' radials. Only thing better is 2 radials. Might have to drop in with my C195 and say," Hi". Cheers, Bravo Charlie (AA/LAX)
0:40 That final looked quite shallow and not very long at all to me. The Beech 18 is beautiful.
Gotta give up the expensive toys when you retire! Someone is going to own a beautiful airplane in another year and a half. Mark at Sykwagons, please make sure this beauty ends up with a good home!
Thank you, Juan! My old bones cheered with this one. Excellent video...all the questions were spot on and the answers concise. Some vids I listen to, but yours I have to watch. My father (he listened to Lindbergs landing on a crystal set, waaay past his bedtime...he signed up Dec 9, 1042 and flew "a few" missions) would have been an avid supporter of your approach and love of aviation. My mother (an student-nominated award winning "best teacher" for more years than we can count) would second that! Me, a retired private pilot and teacher, say, "Thank you for your willingness to dedicate the time to record, EDIT, and upload these videos." My prayer is that, some night over a black, you'll know how much you bless us. Journey mercies.
Uphill to the west at Placerville, all you have to do is hold it flat and level and let the ground come up and kiss the wheels.
That's a gorgeous aircraft. Beautiful. Love the styling. My dad was a big RJR "investor" - smoked filter-less Pall Mall's like a smokestack.
As soon as I heard RJR and smoking, I thought, DEMONITIZED!!!
Beautiful B-18. Much better than the B-18 cargo work horse that I flew and many I worked on.
What A Beauty! - I believe that this aircraft model was used in the opening scene of the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy. I was in high school then (10th grade).
Outstanding! He makes those wheel landings look easy.
I worked tor the local Beechcraft distributor at KDTN in Shreveport in the late '50s and early'60s. Back then, before the jets became common, the Twin Beech was the gold standard for corporate transportation. It was faster than the airlines to travel point to point between small towns. The last model I remember was the E-18S-9700. It was easy to spot because of the 3 bladed props. A beautiful, fast airplane that held its own until it was replaced by the jets.
She's a beauty!!
Every time I see one, it reminds my when I was a child. My Aunt and Uncle took my brother an I (I was probably Pete's age), To see It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World in Boston. I was one of those Cinematic surround movie theaters. I remember feeling the motion of the plane flying. Still a great movie. In fact I just watched it a few weeks ago..
Thanks,
Mark
My first fly in fishing to northern Ontario above Red Lake was to a lake on a D-18 on pontoons.
That is a beautiful twin Beech, I'm glad that someone can afford to keep it going! If only an annual cost $1000 and fuel was a penny a gallon.
Yeah, I'd have to chop at least 3 zeros off the cost of everything to own that one. 😂