1954 Twin Beech D-18 Checkout!

[@samburkes7552]

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!!

[@a-fl-man640]

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.

[@Parker53151]

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.

[@Andrew-13579]

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]

What movie was that??

[@flybyairplane3528]

@@Andrew-13579 hi, ARTHUR GODFREY did own a DC3, got in trouble buzzing the tower @ TEB,, TETERBORO NJ Cheers 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Andrew-13579]

@@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.

[@Parker53151]

@@balsumfractus The movie name was It’a A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

[@mobiltec]

The one in the movie Mad Mad World, owned and flown by 'Spike' Monte Yarter crashed at Taft Airport in 1982 killing everyone aboard. The plane stalled on take off and burst into flames upon impact. I lost 14 good friends that day and was actually supposed to be on the load but had to work that day. instead I figure you know Skip Evans of Perris, CA who also owns a D-18 which has been in many films and commercials over the years. I've never jumped from that one because he won't let anyone jump from it but I've jumped from another out at California City. I also have quite a few jumps from Skips DC-3s which have also been in movies and commercials. He also owned or still owns a C-47 that used to be owned by the New York Dodgers. It was their "Sleeper Transport". I helped remove the paint from it when he got it and underneath several layers of paint we found the New York Dodgers emblem.

[@vonmazur1]

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...

[@7591warthog]

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.

[@natielou143]

That was my thought as well. THANK YOU!

[@nwanchorcertification]

“ how do we know the tail wheel is locked ?” Lmao

[@tomdchi12]

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!

[@dddenton3910]

@@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.

[@greggb1416]

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.

[@gwheyduke]

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.)

[@Britcarjunkie]

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.

[@MysticFogGarden]

My dad flew one for LA Times. Worked for FAA Santa Maria Control tower and the beach was in the shed below. He would fly to Los Angeles pick up newspapers and take them to Las Vegas and elsewhere and back to Santa Maria, Glamorous Paper Dude. Also I have a old picture of Pacific Southwest airlines DC3, 1949 first run to Santa Maria . I could swear, Santa Maria, looked more like a glider port.

[@slkgeothermal]

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.

[@briansims4365]

Hey Skywagon,! cameo appearance . Beautiful, all that polished aluminium

[@Reuben-ny3]

What a magnificent airplane and work of art those Beech 18’s are.

[@JSBIRD69]

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

[@greggb1416]

Yep, that ole’ “hindsight” thing again…, it will get you every time…

[@MikeKobb]

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.

[@myrlstone8904]

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.

[@donmcatee45]

Totally agree, you would bulk out before gross out...

[@leefithian3704]

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

[@JD-zm4eh]

Hey, no kablamo, smooth as butter landing. Beautiful shiny object.

[@glenanders5267]

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.

[@samburkes7552]

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!

[@MarybethIUHoosiers]

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!

[@TreeTop1947]

Beech Staggerwings are the most beautiful civilian aircraft ever built, IMO! TreeTop

[@rebekahleonard2884]

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.

[@daleevans3250]

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.

[@localcrew]

That polished aluminum is stunning. I wish my kitchen looked this clean.

[@schecter6l6]

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..

[@bruce2357]

Coming from my old memory but one of the funniest lines in the whole movie. Buddy: What if something happens? Jim: What can happen to an Old Fashioned?

[@mhjohn3185]

Frankly we are enjoying your furlough as much as you are. Thanks for sharing.

[@seanmcerlean]

He is certainly enjoying himself.

[@jakejacobs7584]

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.

[@bigjeff1291]

Where was your base that you flew out of Jake?

[@jakejacobs7584]

@@bigjeff1291 Mostly Ace Air Cargo in Cleveland but also flew a bit for Buffalo Aeronautical.

[@daviator4720]

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!

[@ronhunt2477]

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!

[@blancolirio]

Hey Ron! Thanks, will do.

[@jimhansen5167]

Hey Ron, respects to you on a magnificent career. Of all those beautiful ladies you left seated, which one is #1 in you heart?

[@ralphcorsi741]

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.

[@jiffyjet2]

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.

[@dennisreeves632]

Nothing sounds as good as those old radials!!!!

[@samburkes7552]

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.!!

[@bigjeff1291]

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.

[@edwardhobelman6296]

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.

[@erichboese7209]

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!

[@scottholman3982]

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!

[@blancolirio]

Yep!

[@roguedalek900]

@@blancolirio I had a friend who was personal friends with Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz.

[@skyblazerrc7228]

The look and sound of that low fly-by! So beautiful

[@mikecrim5292]

I kept looking for the sign that he was going to fly through

[@user-pf5xq3lq8i]

That was the highlight right there!

[@brentdykgraaf184]

Dang nabbit that is one gorgeous aircraft......the second sexiest aircraft ever designed....after the first. Beechcraft 17 staggerwing... ohhhh the sound of radials get this former diesel mechanic turned agricultural engineer smiling. I love the sound d of radials so much.....it beats a Jacob's engine brake on a downhill Mountain run! Great video.

[@michaelhope9881]

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.

[@rickmaudlin2160]

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

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Juan you got the touch...you grease that gear down, no bump. You are a great pilot...

[@brunodeluca7486]

Back in the day we had a Beech 18 that we used for jump operations. It was in "utility" condition, and nothing like this gem. We would typically "float" about 3 jumpers - hanging on to an outside bar handle that ran over the door - in order to puke everybody out at the same time for a quick first formation build. The first floater had to hang tight and broke the wind for the other two climbing out behind him. Thing was, nobody wanted to be first floater. Not because it was hard to hang on, but because they would get oil spray off the left engine. Conventional wisdom at the time was, if it ain't throwing oil it's because it doesn't have any left.

[@lenboyd2357]

Beautiful aircraft thanks for the ride

[@iguanaamphibioustruck7352]

My second plane ride was in a twin Beech owned by Universal International Studios. They were filming Wagonmaster in Moab, 1952, It had a bubble on the front for filming. My buddy Jay Carter and I delivered the mail to his mom's motel where John Wayne, Maureen O'hara, Ward Bond, and John Ford were staying. We got to go on a gas run to Grand Junction CO. Iguana

[@txkflier]

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..

[@robertk.5195]

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.

[@onon2ski183]

I am 99% sure this airplane was once owned by my late uncle Ed Smith, he owned Air Transport Industries of Everett and Arlington WA. If this is the airplane it was the first airplane I ever worked on some 45 years ago as my summer job chemically stripping the yellow paint job it flew with in Canada. It was repainted white with red striping. I vaguely remember it had provisions for aerial fire fighting equipment. He had planed to use to as the "family station wagon". Ed acquired the Beech as a $5000 part payment for either for one or two of his an all aluminum Twin Otter air stair doors or a Twin Otter wing overhaul. The airplane was flown from somewhere in Canada to Paine Field in Everett WA. He would fire it up occasionally, he never flew it. I’ll be digging through my archives for pictures of this airplane to post on YT channel OnOn2Ski along with some of his other projects. Thanks to my uncle Ed I got rope in to the wonderful world of aggravation, opps in mean aviation.

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

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

[@gordonquickstad]

Very fun ride. Made me miss my appointment.

[@mannypuerta5086]

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.

[@RedRoosterParty]

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.

[@EastBayBlue]

"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!!!

[@samburkes7552]

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!

[@thomasaltruda]

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!

[@scottchadbourne4759]

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.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

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.

[@xdays8806]

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!

[@reddog-ex4dx]

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.

[@grandpapa2134]

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

[@LuvBorderCollies]

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.

[@RevMishka]

Thank you so much for taking us along on this magnificent airplane! What a treat! As close as I’ll come and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This twin Beech is a class act!

[@dfmcintyre129]

Juan - Great episode! I was lucky to know two gentlemen from the aviation community who each owned one. One is a gentleman who was a Shuttle mission specialist. The other was a LA dentist who’s avocation was anything that had wings. Got heavily involved in engine management. Best - Don McIntyre / MI

[@sey1yes2]

So it's like a Phillipe Patek watch, you never "own" it, but it's a family hierloom which is in your possession and care. The Beech 18 is my all time favorite ever since I first saw them at Meigs Field in 1957. Tons of 'em with that wonderful engine rumble. Just beautiful!

[@MikeB-bm3qy]

Another great video Juan. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Back in the late 70’s I was finishing college and my private pilot ticket and working at FedEx. We had contracted a company out of Hamilton Ohio called Hogan Air to move freight from CRW and HTS to SDF. Recent deregulation had allowed us to move up from our fleet of Falcon 20’s to the 727. Hogan Air used Beech 18’s out of HTS and DC-3’s from CRW to move freight from those markets to be uploaded to the 727 which flew the freight to the MEM hub. After the Boeing had departed we had several hours to kill waiting for the return flight with the sorted freight. We spent a good bit of that time talking airplanes (among other things!). On occasion there would be a need to take one of the Hogan aircraft up during that time to check out a maintenance issue or something and I’d tag along. I’d sit on a milk crate and hang on to the bulkhead so I didn’t end up in the back of the airplane when we took off. After whatever issue was resolved they’d let me slide into the left seat and get a little “stick time”! For a freshly minted private pilot it was a real treat. The Hogan Air pilots were a great group of guys. I have very fond memories of those days.

[@bingosunnoon9341]

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.

[@coldfoot99]

How cool to watch these guys who fly for work, fly for fun, and take us along. Thanks.

[@mxcollin95]

That is one BEAUTIFUL airplane!

[@maggiesfarm9132]

I love its a mad mad mad world. I am 43 and first watched it around 18. I grew up in yucca Valley and 29 palms. Alot of that movie was filmed in those location. Favorite parts of the movie where the airplane seans. Cool plane. Thanks for the video.

[@Danstaafl]

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.

[@VEJ2]

Loved to fly these aircraft. Did my ATPL check ride on a D-18S in Opa Locka. Did some approaches on Dade Collier after that a visual approach and landing at Everglades city. If I am correct I still have an FAA approved checklist I made for the company I flew for. This was in the beginning of the nineties.

[@joshualandry3160]

I've seen that bird around. Such a beautiful aircraft.

[@MegaShadow1964]

We had B-18 in Yellowknife, NT. Beautiful bird!

[@erice9536]

Back in 1980, I was a young lad fixing a couple of those in cargo versions. Never saw one with seats, cool airplane!

[@n6mz]

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!

[@VMCAviationVideos]

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.

[@alanshelby5980]

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.

[@sactu1]

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.

[@harrowtiger]

Thanks Jimmy & Paul & Juan for taking us along in a magnificent Twin Beechcraft.

[@steveholton4130]

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)

[@JeffreyGold]

Thanks for the ride.

[@sumrica]

I love the sound of those engines in every phase of flight.

[@mmichaeldonavon]

I love the way you "tell yourself" what kind of landing you are setting up for. No sense trying to figure out your landing when you "are in the middle of it." :) Sometime that 3 pointer turns out to be a wheel landing, or vice-versa. :) Great channel, Sir. Thank you. Concerning the Beech 18. I read that you had to have at least an "I.A." certificate, just to preflight it :) Article said that you should be "handy with a wrench" if you own one, and to also check with the Insurance Company before buying. Love those P&W Engines. Think your plane has the R985. Article said it was a "bullet proof engine." Article said you have to LOVE flying and LOVE airplanes to own one of these Beech D18's. In other words, "bring your wallet with you" whenever you approach it. :) I think it is a great airplane. Always wanted to get a "free fall" out of one. Seems the "jumpers" in California use one quite a bit. Thanks, Juan Brown.

[@MultiSteveB]

That Piper that landed at 4:14 sounded like a much more.... firm... landing. :D

[@kenduncan3221]

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.

[@williamheyman5439]

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.

[@justsnappy]

I was working for ABX at BFI in 2002 and one of the feeders was operating B18s daily. Pretty cool planes.

[@oldtugs]

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.

[@justsnappy]

@@oldtugs Pretty cool. Thanks for the details. I just remember really being in awe.

[@coffeeseven]

"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.

[@bartofilms]

What a Beauty! Befitting Thurston Howell III. 😉.

[@mikeoswald8053]

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.

[@billt2341]

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.)

[@dmack1827]

Far and away, the best float plane I flew. I loved the twin Beech. This is a spectacular aircraft.

[@oldtugs]

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.

[@lizj5740]

*minimum en-route altitude.

[@whisperingeagle]

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.

[@francis105G]

AWESOME Story Juan!!! Nothing like the Iconic Design and Sound of a Twin Beech 18. Love the Polished Aluminum as opposed to colored paint.

[@eddieflxible379]

im in love with the chrome finish on this Beech. beautiful indeed

[@blancolirio]

polished aluminum.

[@eddieflxible379]

@@blancolirio - thanks for the clarifying. It’s too early and I need to wake up lol

[@DCGULL01]

Juan- Thank You! What a blast from the past. I remember these flying over the house when I was a kid. They flew 'local' flights from JFK & LaGuardia to Bradley International up in Central CT. I used to think they were 'converted' military planes... hahaha Thanks again!

[@rickbrownsberger8181]

Wheel landings are supported to be the reason for the spar strap AD.

[@drenk7]

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.

[@timmckenna210]

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 .

[@frankwilldo2434]

Lol. I flew the Bugsmasher and the Super Bugsmasher about 40 years ago for not one but two, less than reputable operators. On floats in N. Ontario and on wheels in YYZ. The float operation was interesting because you would get pushed off the dock and start the left engine to pull away but if you didn't get the right one going pretty quickly you were going to be going right back to the dock because the water rudders didn't have enough authority to keep it straight. The wheel operator had been in business a loooooong time and evaded regulators for years even though he was right under their noses. One night I was trundling along and happened to glance at the louvered vent in a cowling and could see one of the exhaust stacks was glowing red hot and two of the three nuts holding it to the jug were dancing loose on the studs. That was about the least notable maintenance issue I had there.

[@daver3681]

Outstanding! He makes those wheel landings look easy.

[@patrickfullan9509]

That is one Beautiful plane.

[@guggyp]

As a Former enlisted Air Force kid then later as a engineer at Naval Air Weapons Center China Lake ( 30 years) I really enjoy aviation. ( Chico State Grad) The historical perspective you bring to your videos are unmatched on the internet I’m surprised KZbin hasn’t canceled your channel Great job keep it up. Praying for your continued good health!!!!

[@raymondstrom7686]

What a gorgeous bird. It's a keeper.

[@josephjolly1936]

When I was in A&P school in Atlanta Georgia that is what learned to run engines on.

[@yuvegotmale]

Just like cars from the 50s.....they just don't makem like this anymore....what a magnificent aircraft....thank you Juan for this video.

[@rgt4848]

One of the best sounding flying machines out there. Beech 18 on floats is even more fun btw.

[@maryhines322]

I watched a twin Beech on floats do a engine run up, it almost tore the dock down!