Photo ID: 1011288
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Model: BE-18T, E-18S |
Registration: N909GP |
| Year: 1957 |
Serial Number: BA-236 |
| Engine(s): PT6A-20, 550-HP |
Owner: K&K Aircraft
Bridgewater, VA |
| Location: Los Alamitos, CA |
Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
| Date: 2003, October |
Present Registration: Same |
Present Owner (FAA info): |
Notes: 10/22/03 - N909GP was built as a 1957, E-18S, s/n BA-236. Initial registration was N33JD, and then N514T, N514J, N514JH, N56S, N5681, N787S and finally N909GP (Would it shock you if this aircraft had an identity crisis?)
Unofficial History:
Jan-57, Beech's original application for Certificate of Airworthiness. Feb-57, Beech sold to J. D. Reed Company, Inc., Houston, TX, as N33JD; Apr-57 to Tennessee Gas & Transmission Company, Houston, TX, registration changed to N514T; Nov-62, registration changed to N514J, sold to J. S. Abercrombie, Houston, TX; Feb-63, to Houston-Beechcraft Inc., Houston, TX. Feb-63, to Executivaire, Inc., Cincinnati, OH, registration changed to N514JH; Apr-63, Aerojet rocket engines installed; Jan-64, Volpar Tricycle gear installed; July-65, to American Management Association, Hamilton, NY, registration changed to N56S; Oct-66, registration changed to N5681; Nov-66, to Southern Ohio Aviation Sales, Inc., West Carrollton, OH; Nov-66, to Aircraft Owners, Inc., Miami, FL; Mar-67, PT6A-20 Engines installed by American Turbine Aircraft, Long Beach, CA; Aug-67 to Harry Hood Bassett, Miami, FL, as N787S; Dec-68 to Southeast Properties, Inc., Miami, FL (later Southeast Properties, Inc.); Feb-70 to Southern Airways Company, Orlando, FL; Mar-70 to Georgia Pacific Corporation, Augusta, GA, as a "Beechcraft Turbo Prop Westwind", became N909GP; June-73 to Hamilton Aircraft Company, Tucson, AZ; May-74, Hamilton removed tri-gear and re-installed conventional gear, installed extended nose, cargo/airstair door, 11,230 gross weight kit, crew door and more; May-74, to Tobey, Inc., Belgrade Lakes, ME;. Aug-79 to Check Air, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, as a "Beech Westwind III - E18S"; Oct-79 to FFC, MA; Mar-80, to Mountain Air Cargo, Inc., Maiden, NC; May-86 to Coastal States Aviation, Inc., Denver, NC; Sept-89 to K&K Aircraft, Bridgewater, VA; Nov-91, Removed all cabin windows and frames and skinned over; Apr-94, Aircraft certificated in multiple categories, Standard and Restricted, aircraft total time 17,613 hours. |
Photo ID: 1011289
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Notes: Bug-eyed, probably after hearing the pilots say, "Yes, we're going flying". |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011290
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Notes: A highly qualified, two-man crew in a well equipped and maintained aircraft with lots of fuel - - and away we go! They can disperse the sterile, male Med Flies in IFR conditions. The flies might get spatial disorientation and spin down through the clouds, but they'll eventually get things under control and make a nice landing. Hopefully they'll find a lady friend looking for a mate, and they'll have - - no kids! That's the object of the dispersal program. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011291
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Notes: Coming back for another load. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011292
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Notes: Beech 18's have humiliated a lot of good pilots. I've flown the piston-powered ones in a fair amount of wind and it makes you work. In a crosswind, you use power on the upwind engine to help maintain directional control, and of course you advance the throttle to achieve that. On the turbine 18, you use reverse thrust on the downwind engine, and you pull the power lever back to achieve that. It probably takes some mental adjustments to get used to that! |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011293
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Notes: Just a tad of up-elevator here, feeling for the ground and trying for a "kisser" for the guy with the camera. He got it. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011294
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Notes: Tail higher now, to keep her firmly planted, and then as she slows down we'll bring the tail down and keep her going straight - - all at the same time. These airplanes are not done flying until they are in the pit. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011295
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Notes: Shutting down after a three hour flight. "It sure will feel good to get out of this thing and stretch our legs!" |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011296
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Notes: Heading out with another load. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011297
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Notes: At night, with the yellow security lights on and some flash - - and then my graphics program did something funny to the sky, that gave that blue cast. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
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