Beech 18.... End of an era?

Patrick_Swayze · Post by **Patrick_Swayze** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:14 pm

It seems to me like the Beech 18 is becoming more of a dock ornament than a useful aircraft. Now I know some operators still have them and fly them daily but do you think they are slowly being replaced by the Turbo Otters and Beavers. The high maintenance costs of operating 2 R-985 Pratts for a small usefull load is slowly killing this beautiful machine. I think the Beech's time on the dock is limited for commercial use.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:31 pm

I think the Beech's time on the dock is limited for commercial use.

I bet Snoopy wouldn't agree with you.

lazyboy · Post by **lazyboy** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:21 am

would she agree with anyone or anything?.....

dash2/3 · Post by **dash2/3** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:21 am

priceless lazyboy....priceless.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:24 am

I thought it was just me. I figgered we must have been
married at some point.

Unusual Attitude · Post by **Unusual Attitude** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:49 pm

Vancouver Island Air will be leasing a Turbo Otter soon too. Another Beech 18 operator switching to the Otter.

wabano · Post by **wabano** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:41 pm

The Twin Beech on float is a very pleasant airplane to fly.

As much as the Turbo-Otter, but much faster, and far cheaper to own,
if not to operate...(you used to be able to buy ten GOOD ONES for the price
of a Twin Otter!).

I flew it in Ungava, with good memories, even with the hundred feet tides,
heavy seas and high winds, all of which would make a Twin Otter on float
a nightmare to operate all by yourself(no water rudders, a major handicap).

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:12 pm

The Twin Beech on float is a very pleasant airplane to fly.

From a pilots perspective the Twin Beech is the best fu.kin float plane there is out there to fly...period.

Ballsssssss · Post by **Ballsssssss** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:37 pm

Cat Driver wrote:
The Twin Beech on float is a very pleasant airplane to fly.
From a pilots perspective the Twin Beech is the best fu.kin float plane there is out there to fly...period.

AND she's a beaut to look at, too.

sprayrail · Post by **sprayrail** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:11 pm

I think the 18 still has some good years left on floats or otherwise and most operators are very aware that for the price of one PT6 overhaul you can get a couple of fresh R-985s to go. Long the the Twin Beech.

RHDZ · Post by **RHDZ** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:31 pm

I concur long live ZRI RPL ERM TBD and last but not least RVL you K-now it nestor.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:48 am

I'd like to know how no water rudders on a -6 is a handicap? I've always found it to be the best handling airplane on the water!! OK, if you are on your own it can be a problem with an off the dock wind but that's what you have passengers for!!! LOL... Plus not many people can operate them single pilot anymore with the new regs. You just don't need water rudders when you have 2 turbines with full reverse.. BTW, if you put a -6 on whips, I'd challenge any other floatplane to handle rougher water!!

The Beech is a classic and a beauty but it certainly does not have the versatility of a -3T or a -6..

VIA should be getting their -3T tomorrow or the next day.. C-GHAG..

wabano wrote:The Twin Beech on float is a very pleasant airplane to fly.

As much as the Turbo-Otter, but much faster, and far cheaper to own,
if not to operate...(you used to be able to buy ten GOOD ONES for the price
of a Twin Otter!).

I flew it in Ungava, with good memories, even with the hundred feet tides,
heavy seas and high winds, all of which would make a Twin Otter on float
a nightmare to operate all by yourself(no water rudders, a major handicap).

sdp · Post by **sdp** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:41 am

don't forget: xuo,zng,tbx,ehx,and wwv.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:02 am

all of which would make a Twin Otter on float
a nightmare to operate all by yourself(no water rudders, a major handicap).

Hmmm.....float plane with water rudders and one engine or two engines with no reverse......you are moving very slowly or not moving at all and want to change the direction of the airplane.

Twin Otter with both engines running and you want to change the direction of the airplane with no forward movement in the water.......having no water rudders is a major handicap?

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:36 am

the only time no water rudders is a handy cap is if you loose an engine, then you have to go pick it up with a boat

Ballsssssss · Post by **Ballsssssss** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:03 am

sdp wrote:don't forget: xuo,zng,tbx,ehx,and wwv.

I have worked on all of those except WWV (assuming you meant TBH not TBX). Some sexy old birds. I like the one with the 3 bladers.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:14 am

I like the one with the 3 bladers.

I liked TBD with the two blades, I could put my fingers in the right spot with my girl friends and let the shock waves off the props at full RPM work their magic.

Bushav8er · Post by **Bushav8er** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:08 am

I liked TBD with the two blades, I could put my fingers in the right spot with my girl friends and let the shock waves off the props at full RPM work their magic.

Okay...Cat's new name is now 'Dog Driver'

I like the concept though but put the props outta sync a little

- get the buzz?

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:28 am

Great idea.....

Great minds think the same.

wabano · Post by **wabano** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:26 pm

Hum!

Excessive use of beta or less maneuvering in tight spots is the best way to toast the PT-6.
Many operators lose money 'cause that right engine croak at 600 hrs...
(For the lack of water rudders and venturi hot air evacuation
from inside the cowlings as in the big jet engines)
So imagine yousself in the middle
of the lake on ONE engine and no rudders(or up the creek without a paddle?)

Compared to the Norseman and Beech, ALL the De Hav's have their limitations
in rough country...they are, shall we say..."delicate"...
Land in not too optimal snow or water and their weak gear WILL collapse.
Strong gusts, heavy seas flipped many an Otter too,
while the old battlewagons from Cartierville and Wichita
will bob up and down like corks in seas that even boats
have difficulty navigating...
(Just stirring the pot).

Glassy water, bane of the Norseman, De Hav's heaven...

sdp · Post by **sdp** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:40 pm

I ment tbx, but i forgot about tbh, i think all those old birds have 2 blades except tbh.

wabano · Post by **wabano** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:57 pm

The prop replace the flywheel on an aero engine.
The three blades prop is a poor replacement while the heavier two blades
prevent a lot of wear and tear from vibrations, according to the overhaul shops...
More efficient too(longer) if not so pretty.

Ballsssssss · Post by **Ballsssssss** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:00 pm

wabano wrote:The prop replace the flywheel on an aero engine.
The three blades prop is a poor replacement while the heavier two blades
prevent a lot of wear and tear from vibrations, according to the overhaul shops...
More efficient too(longer) if not so pretty.

I think you have it backwards.....

BeechBoy007 · Post by **BeechBoy007** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:15 pm

OK You guys, your'e baiting me ....to see if I will come out and play!
You win. A Beech rant.....

Just spent 7 hours in a -6 with floaties today but there is nothing better than flying a Beech. The Twotter is a bus. Get over it. Don't get me wrong Tonto its a great plane.......it just doesn't fly as sweet as a Beech.

Yes, the Beech is as fast as a -6 floater, carries half the passenger load of the 100 series -6, burns half the fuel, uses half the crew-but costs NOTHING compared to a Twin Otter with 40,000 hours on it!

And don't even go there about its single engine performance. You think a 100 series Twotter goes anywhere at gross, on one BBQ?
Your smokin' something illegal.

The Beech does a good job even on floats, on one engine.
They fly them at 10,000 + on wheels, and just 8725 on floats... drag be damned, it still flys not bad on one.

Course, Dash 3T's don't go far when it gets quiet either.

The big guy at the Spit told me it will cost Quarter Mil to pay for lease and insurance for one year on a Turbo Otter. Yup, it can carry more and with a pilot PPC 14 bums over the measely 9 on a Beech. Course,the Beech is only $25,000 a year to insure.

Question for him might be, are the days long enough to make the hay? And keep two pilots on it every day of the week to get all the 16 hours of work that might be around? So, are Dash 3T's for small operators, really a two crew plane? One at a time.

I hope the gamble pays off for small operators who stretch out to see if they can gain the type of volume business needed to support a Dash 3T, like large operators ie. HA. They do a great job with them and should be proud of it.

If things go south and there is a deeper downturn in our economies
perhaps the Beech's will be the only thing the banks won't own,left to fly.

So, if your offended a Twotter guy likes Beech's too, get over it.
If you got a negative about the Beech, ......please be sure you have a thousand or so hours in them before commenting.......I love to meet those guys, the ones who have never flown 18's but got bad stuff to say, I like to meet THOSE GUYS on a narrow dock somewhere, sometime. LOL.

If you want to fly one on floats and try it out, PM me and have your debit card handy. I might take you upon it.

Happy flying Amigos.

Ballsssssss · Post by **Ballsssssss** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:36 pm

Great post BeachBoy. Though how much of that quarter mil to lease/insure a -3T is insurance?

Beech 18.... End of an era?

Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?

Re: Beech 18.... End of an era?