Beechcraft 18

Piston twin engine • Low Wing • Retractable gear

Range Map

Origin:

• nm at current load

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Payload vs. Range

Configure weights

Occupants

lb + lbs / pax

Select payload

gal

Fuel on board

lbs

Extra weight

Range

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.

Fuel capacity reduced by gallons ( gal usable for nm range).

Over max gross weight. Reduce payload by lbs to safely operate this aircraft.

Extra weight is the additional payload available with your selected passengers.

Mission Profile

Used market

183

KTAS

Cruise Speed

985

Max Range

20,500

Service Ceiling

Occupants

1768

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

High-Performance
Complex
Multi-Engine

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Beechcraft 18

Type certificated 1946 Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet

Overview

The Beechcraft Model 18, the “Twin Beech,” is a radial-engine cabin twin that Beechcraft produced from 1937 to 1969, a thirty-two-year production run. This record reflects the post-war D18S: two 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radials, a tailwheel airframe, and a cabin that seats up to ten. It served as an airliner, executive transport, military trainer (C-45 and Expeditor), and freighter, and survives today largely as a collector and warbird airframe.

For a buyer, the Twin Beech is a piece of flying history first and a practical airplane second. It carries a real load and has the unmistakable sound and presence of round engines, but it asks for tailwheel skill, radial-engine knowledge, and a budget for vintage upkeep. Choose it for the heritage, the ramp presence, and the heavy-hauling cabin, and only if you will invest in the airframe and engine care a 1940s radial twin demands.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Classic radial twin. A 1940s cabin twin with the sound and presence of Pratt & Whitney R-985 radials; a fixture at airshows and warbird events.
Heavy hauler. A useful load near 3,000 pounds carries six to ten occupants, baggage, and fuel; the airframe was built for airline and freight work.
Many conversions exist. Airframes have been modified with tricycle gear (Volpar), turbine engines, and fuselage stretches, though the tailwheel piston version remains the purist’s choice.

Trade-offs

Demanding ground handling. A heavy taildragger with a narrow track; crosswind and ground-loop discipline and type-specific training are essential.
Maintenance intensity. The R-985 radials are reliable but thirsty (about 40 gallons per hour combined) and oil-hungry; vintage-twin upkeep, corrosion control, and spar inspections add cost.
Dated cockpit. The original layout is 1940s vintage and cramped by modern standards, though many have updated avionics.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 9.6 ft
Length: 34.2 ft
Parking area (ft²): 2260.66 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 8,750 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 8,750 lbs
Useful Load: 2,980 lbs
Fuel Capacity: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 202 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: 183 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 223 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 178 KIAS
Approach Speed: 87 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): 75 KIAS
Range: 985 NM
Service Ceiling: 20,500 ft
Rate of Climb: 270 - 1190 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 1,760 ft
Landing ground roll: 1,460 ft

Engines

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Beechcraft 18 specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.