Flying the Beech 18

[@jamesbooth-qx2yx]

I used to jump out of a d-18 back in the 70's and 80's😅

[@marshalllpearson]

My father brought home a horse in the 18, back in the 60’s.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The horse was inside it?

[@jimmyoverly3512]

Pics?

[@marshalllpearson]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 Y. I convinced him to write an autobiography for all his stories. 35,000 hrs PIC.

[@Pilotc180]

Horses were not as tall back in the 60s

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

hores shit😂😂😂😂😂, i did more than a few jumps out of a b18, yolo and pope valley❤

[@lloydfranks1357]

This is as close to a dream come to life as it gets for me!!!

[@quoderatdemonstrandum5442]

I've got a couple thousand hours flying FAR 135 night air freight in the Twin Beech.... My favorite airplane.

[@mysteryY2K]

was that up in WA state by chance?

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

What a beautiful airplane! Getting in this aircraft must be like stepping into a time machine that goes straight to the golden age of aviation.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is exactly what it was like

[@johnweatherford5760]

One fine bird. I’m 43 and love the big bad era. People now days haven’t a clue what real music is everything else is just noise!

[@carlosballesteros4670]

Hope you have enjoyed it? 😂😂😂😂😂 more than that! Made me to remember my early days with a 182 cessna with the flying school. Now I'm 64 on retirement. Thank you for a great.video, with a great pilot on a great airplane. Greetings from Mexico.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you.

[@165881]

I flew the Beech 18 for 18 months at the age of 20 for a year and half in 1967-1968. A wonderful airplane hauling the first night mail contract since the 1930s . Our call sign was airmail one. My route was from Minneapolis to international falls Minnesota. I would arrive at. 10:00 pm . In the winter we would drain 8 gallons of oil from each engine in the winter and carry that next to the stove in the hanger. In the morning we pour the oil back in so we could have a good start. Now after 40 years in commercial aviation these were my fondest years.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Great memories.

[@captainsalty9022]

I accumulated about 1500 hours in various models of the 18 back in the late 70’s. Of all the aircraft I have flown, it was the most engaging and satisfying. I think they were the last multi-engine “pilots airplane” built. Nothing automatic, mostly manual, mechanical controls and a stable, capable machine. While sitting in the right seat as co-pilot once, I watched as the left seat pilot showed me a 450 foot ground roll take-off in an empty plane. (I thought we were going to hit a low fence at the airport boundary as the gear came up!). My father flew them to get his flight pay when he was a senior officer in the Marine Corps in the 50’s and 60’s. It has been a long time since I walked away from my last flight in one, but they are a fond memory.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

A real classic and very rewarding to fly well.

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

awesome stuff

[@sdefiel3719]

I flew cargo on the Beech 18 from New Orleans to points along the Gulf coast back around '85. She was a sweetheart. I only ground looped her once ... or so. Thanks for the memories, S

[@JamesFrost74659]

My first swimming lesson was in the back of one of these. In the mid 1960's my Dad flew these. On some weekends he would take my Mom, my three sisters and myself flying. Well my Dad was a real character... he put this airplane into a dive and I floated up and out of my seat stretched out throwing my arms and kicking my feet. I remember looking forward and seeing my Dad looking back at me laugh his butt off. My mom reached up to grab me snd pull me back down to my seat. They said it looked like I was swimming... I never flew with him in that airplane again. He flew Seaplanes for years and years and flew for Taca Airlines. He use to scare me in those also. In the Airliner, four engine DC-4?. Flying jump seat he would pretend we were going to crash into a big cloud... While somewhere in Central America it was Christmas and I wanted to talk to Santa Claus. My Dad thought that was a wonderful idea, he said , "yeah, you go talk to Santa Claus" ..... Well he knew exactly what was about to happen. So im sitting on his lap talking to him, then Santa starts talking to me... In Spanish.... I don't know a word he is saying. I look at my Dad and again he is standing there laughing his butt off. Im glad I brought so much joy to him, he was killed racing motorcycles in 1971, I was 12 when he died. I miss ya Dad.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Love those kind of stories. Your Dad sounds like my uncle was.

[@JamesFrost74659]

He was, with the name Jack Frost.... you know something is ascew. He flew with Bill Fornoff in his P-51 and Bearcat. He also flew C-97's during the Biafran war 1968 - 1970. He did all of that before he died at the age of 39. Take care Sir, a special spot in my heart is reserved for Beechcraft 18's and I'm so thankful for it.

[@mysteryY2K]

Taca? are you Salvadoran?

[@JamesFrost74659]

@@mysteryY2K Hoy, no, I'm as white as they come. In the 60's TACA Airlines was using American pilots while they trained their own pilots. My Dad could speak several languages including speed Morse Code.

[@fobypawz418]

the 1930's was truly a sweet time for Aviation. Aircrafts never looked Sexier!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes it was.

[@cdl737]

Had some 18 experience back in the early seventies. I think I was there to keep the pilot awake. But I got paid. And I ground looped once . At MDW,at 02:30 in the morning . Have never forgotten it. Very awake the rest of the night. Fortunately no damage. Hell of an airplane . Loved flying it. Very solid instrument A/C.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks, Interesting.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Beautiful Beech 18 Mark

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks. It's a classic.

[@dougmackenzie5976]

I love B-18s, but for long-haul, they really could use a prop synchrophaser.

[@Niagra_fanBruce]

cousiin Brucie, When I was in AFROTC in college I flew with 2 captains from De Moines Iowa to Wichita Falls Tx then I flew the 18 all night back to Offut AFB. Those 450 just hum. You know what pilots say put your faith in GOD and pratt and whitney. Good video luv it.

[@BellaZimmerman-v6c]

Such a beautiful aircraft,love that sound a good P&W radial makes.. WOW!What a plane .

[@TomasAWalker53]

That was fantastic. I was born the previous year, making this one 67? I grew up a short mile from Vancouver Airport and used to watch all of the old timers left over from WWII flying in and out serving the west coast commercial fishing communities and interior logging towns. Grumman Goose, Wigeons and Mallards. DC 3, 4, 6s too. Beech 18s were my favourites for lots of reasons that were all shown in this video today. Oooee!!! At 16, I was fuelling at the airport. All of those aircraft and floatplanes too. C-170, 172, 180, 185s. Not many 206s. Of course my all-time fave on floats the Beaver. Life is funny. When I was that age all I could think about was being a pilot one day. I got my PPL, but the oil crisis put a stop to a lot of careers. Anyway, there was an old 18 on the ramp that waited for two years to get a main-spar replaced. Many times and on many days when things were quiet on the weekends I would sneak aboard and up into the left seat and not unlike a kid sitting in his Dad's car, imagined that she and I were on some important trip up the coast to some remote location. Many were put on floats and proved very useful in that configuration. At the time I had a vague feeling I was watching the end of an era as many of the Mallards were bought up and shifted to Florida and the Caribbeans. There were some Catalinas (Cansos up here)and even a couple of Republic Seebees doing taxi work in the Gulf Islands. Work still being done but by Beavers and Caravans today. Anyway, it all came rushing back to me when I saw and heard that beautiful 18. I didn't get my commercial like I planned, but today I got to sit in Mark's lap and the quality of video today, including the audio is so much like one is right there. Thanks for bringing a dream come true even if it is a virtual experience. BTW. That character in the back sounded an awful lot like Juan? Coincidence I'm sure. Couldn't quite make out his face. Huh.......

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Hi BCbou53! What a great story! We are very happy you enjoyed the video. We enjoyed the memories! And, yes ... that is Juan in the back seat.

[@TomasAWalker53]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I had a feeling it was him‼️🤪 LOL I’m sure we all got a hoot flying around in that beautiful piece of aviation history⁉️Military as well as civilian.

[@dougolson304]

Jimmy, Mark & JB thanks for the ride along in one beautiful Beech 18😛😛😛. Haven’t flown one since 1975. Loved the plane but not the job.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

What was the job?

[@dougolson304]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 night mail and freight for a fella that got kicked out of trucking. He was a likable guy with a temper and usually in hot water with the FSDO. Nightly flights & RTBs to a farmer’s field strip with reflectors serving as runway lights and car battery powered strobes at both ends of the rwy. One set was usually burned out..FSDO POI wouldn’t ride in there. Ah the “good old days” 😯😯😯

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

@@dougolson304 That sounds like fun, and you made it through it. ;-)

[@dougolson304]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 true, I moved on found a great company and had a rewarding career that I wouldn’t trade for anything. 🙂

[@thomascharlton8545]

Sure brings back some memories. Thanks.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kevinvoges3447]

What a treat to "ride" along in this beauty!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was a great ride. Fun to share via KZbin.

[@jamesfrost7465]

My first swimming lesson was in one of these. Seriously. My dad flew one of these in Houma Louisiana in the early- mid 60's. A yellow one. I was about four or five years old. Well my Dad "Jack Frost" was a real jokester. On many weekends he would take me, my sisters and mom flying. For some reason I was out of my seat and standing in the little isle. Well my Dad decides to put the plane into a steep dive causing me to float up to the ceiling. I remember being stretched out on the ceiling throwing my arms and kicking my legs. I looked forward to see my Dad looking back at me from the cockpit laughing. My mom reached up to pull me down and she bumbed her head on the ceiling and got mad. They said it looked just like I was swimming. He use to scare the hell out of me in Seaplanes also. He died when I was twelve, racing motorcycles. He was a wild one.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Funny story. Reminds me of when I was in a freighter Alaska DC3 hitching a ride south from AK as a teenager and was at 12000 feet and needed the restroom. The pilots said to crawl down the drafty windy noisy fuselage over all the cargo and pee out of the crack in the badly fitting rear doors. So I did, and when I was down there doing this and very "vulnerable to amusement" they must have hit some very "localized" turbulence. You can imagine the rest. ;-)

[@jamesfrost7465]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 That is funny, oh to live those days again.

[@christopherhale580]

That has to be one of the coolest planes I have ever seen!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was great to ride in it too.

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

My Dad flew Twin Beech very much like this out in Hawaii doing tours in the 70s when I was a a kid. I got to ride along frequently. Cool plane cool memories.

[@brucer81]

Very exciting. The Beech 18. Like no other.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

She's a classic for sure 9000 made, 300 left.

[@josephedixon3449]

Man I love my uncle, best pilot and man in the world.

[@johnwight6041]

Looks like a really stable, comfortable, nice hand flying airplane! Really enjoyed watching. One of my favorite aircraft

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

There is a lot going on but it is a stylish retro mini corporate airliner.

[@jamesnelson7415]

Thanks for the memories Mark. I flew both a conventional gear and a Volpar modified "nose dragger" D18S back in the latr 1980s and early 1990s. Bothe wrre delightful handling airplanes with light, welll balanced controls with wonderful harmony, truly a joy to fly! They also exhibited good stability, any attitude you put the airplane in, espevially in roll, it would maintain fprever, changing only when you commanded it. Whenever I flew the "mose dragger," it reminded me of a B-25 wile sitting in the cockpit on the ground. The nose wheel was fre castering, like a '47 Bonanza, so you steered with differential thrust on the ground and avoided braking as much as possible. Also, when the gear was retracted the spinning nose wheel tire would rub on thr well structure and there was a strong smell of burning rubber in the cockpit for a minute or two - always surprised anyone new to the plane. Yes, we flight planned for an average fuel burn of 45 gph, and that was just about right on for overall fuel burn on a normal flight, but could go higher if just doing short hops or pattern work with more time taking off or climbing Great memories for a now older guy now looking at hanging up thr headset.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you for this.

[@donc9751]

Very beautiful old airplane!!! Thank you for bringing us along and all the info and details that you point out along the way! Nice of the owners to take you up for the tour! They get some thanks too!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulsmith3487]

Love this little pearler,such a neat little unit!

[@Britcarjunkie]

When I was in high school, a friend that worked at Northrop had a ex-RCAF D-18S, and I got quite a few (un-logged) hours in it, including trips to Catalina Island: we used to bring people out of their hangars as we did side slips into Flabob Airport, to see if we'd make it! 🤣😅😂 What a sweetie-pie of an airplane to fly, but do be careful on the ground if it has the taller tail strut, as it'll bite you if you're not paying attention.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I used to fly out of Flabob.

[@Britcarjunkie]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 My friend used to know somebody there, but I can't remember who - this was in the early '80's...

[@benc1103]

Taildraggin' radials. Doesn't get any better for REAL pilots. I have a few hours in an H model (nosedigger Beech 18). Beech 18's fly like they're on rails. Beech knew how to build airplanes. My personal ride is a Cessna 195. Nice radial engine music. Great airplane for keeping stick and rudder skills sharp. Thanks for a nice video.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Hi Ben! Come to Placerville and we'll make a video of your plane!

[@benc1103]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I'll try to make it happen

[@lynnkanable7023]

In the 70's we used to go down to Weir Cook airport (Indy now) watch the night mail planes load up for their overnight runs. As I recall they were called "scud runners" for the low altitude they flew.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Imagine flying these at night every night.

[@rudert56]

Love the sound of twin 450 Pratt and Whitney radials.

[@Deano1948]

Boy the new style windshield really gives great visibility!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes it does!

[@pauldudakadanielthomson8890]

While in A & E school , 1976 , two of our teachers had to get the Beech x-rayed. They invited me and two other students to go from Ogden to Van Nuys , about 700 miles. Wow, our two teachers were ex-B29 Air force flight crew and pilots during W.W. ll ! The Beech 18 , an amazing aircraft , I think it was made in 1949 , all the instruments were old and original.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Excellent. Those were the days. Imagine that happening now!!!

[@Marie579]

Presumably the little holes in the roof are for cabin pressure equalisation! 😂😂😂😂

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

Livin the life! just beautiful!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It is a fantastic plane.

[@sink61]

Great airplanes! I was fortunate to fly a 1958 E18S for one year delivering cargo. Sadly, that airplane sits in disrepair inside a hanger Mason City, Iowa.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Sadly like a lot of them. The spar AD killed a lot of them.

[@JasonRiley276]

Awesome video. The Beech 18 is such a beautiful plane

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's a classic and it was great that we had one local with a generous owner to let us ride in it and film it.

[@DGraham-i3y]

Sweet. I wish more of these existed; only 200 of the original 9000 still fly. I remember seeing commercial passenger use of the 18 in vintage movies.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Imagine it as a passenger plane. 140 Kts and 100 gallon per hour.

[@NicosProjects]

One of my absolute dream airplanes. Today I'm flying a Robin DR400 und a DV20 Katana but I hope the future will bring me a Beech 18 some day 🙂 Nice Video, good job!

[@jeepguy220]

these planes ard the ones that fly them are the last of a great Era. these planes back in the 70 and 80s have lives straight out of a novel. has any one seen the Miami vice Beech 18 N441MH is it still around?

[@joekelley1014]

That was awesome, what an iconic aircraft. Thank you for presenting this video (I am a little late if you noticed!)

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kevinmalloy2180]

Wow! Wonderful!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you.

[@mikearakelian6368]

All my tsil wheel time is B E 18...nite freight!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Did you ever do the Pocatello, Twin Falls, Salt late run in the late eighties?

[@stephenwalters8061]

Simply Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevenflattum156]

That was fun thanks guys!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Welcome

[@OGJuggernaut]

Jimmy’s a hell of a triple 7 pilot as well, and has a nice little cub. Great video guys!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you, Jggnt! We appreciate the kind words.

[@rnt-gutierrezgutierrez580]

A piece of Americana. What a treat. Thanks

[@terryrobertson8382]

The stand pipes in the oil tanks are for the engine oil pumps. The reserve is for the feathering pumps. I have 150 hours in a C-45H Expeditor and had a master Twin Beech pilot teach me how to fly it. It really isn't hard to fly with top notch training.

[@gordonfeliciano4315]

Beautiful aircraft! Love those vintage Beech radials! Such a sweet sound! Thanks for sharing!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Aeronautical music for sure.

[@Marie579]

I AM IN LOVE! What a stunning looking aircraft!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Couldn't agree more!

[@leeadams5941]

Thanks for that, many memories as lots of hours in a C45 and a C117D What you learned and taught in back in the day lol...

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you.

[@MrSuzuki1187]

I flew Beech 18s for a living for 5 years and 3000 hours. Flew scheduled passenger flights and flew the mail at night. I LOVED this airplane! I was a flight instructor and company check airman and ground instructor.

[@simontillman3463]

Beautiful Aircraft, great Video with special guests in the middle!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@deanmerculief2966]

Nothing beats the sounds of the round (Radial) engines.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Not even the sound of two radial engines?

[@04JALD]

I miss the 18s. My dad owned two 18s when I was young and flew airmail. He had a lot of planes and his 2 go to planes were the 18s and his V tail Bonanza. I actually love these two planes and I loved his 185 sky wagon, polished with red stripes. This was back in the 70s and the 80s. Great video.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

70's and 80's were the last of the good years of production of Cessna at least.

[@PSYCHEDELIKSOUL]

Super cool video! Flew to Auburn on March 6th for lunch and got to see this beauty!! Jim was kind enough to let us inside, super cool bird!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sdb3039]

Absolute stunner.

[@quackgarage9551]

My uncle had a tricycle gear model and used mainly for skydiving, so many memories. Amazing plane.

[@twistedyogert]

I kinda wish that these types of aircraft were still made.

[@StratocastRS]

Man this is awesome. Beech 18 Dc-3 are my favorites. Great to hear the line from Its a mad mad mad mad world. that movie made me love this plane.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It is a great old plane. And a funny movie.

[@redbaronahp]

I’m a FedEx pilot and if you ever decide or need to part ways with that beautiful plane, I’d be extremely interested in owning it. I’ve dreamt of a owning a polished aluminum twin Beech and have considered restoring and refurbishing one. Yours is truly beautiful.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I'll ask the owner for you.

[@davidgeney6382]

I flew a Beech 18 for FedEx. Well sort of. Back in the early 90’s I flew for a small company called Miami Air Charter out of Tamiami Miami Executive. We were contracted by FedEx to fly to both Freeport and Nassau daily, until we lost the contract to Mountain Air Cargo and their “fancy” Caravans. I think FedEx was just tired of us leaving oil puddles on their ramps 😂. And yes, I’d love to own a Beech 18 too. When asked, I’d I say that the 18 is a great plane that can haul a huge load and flew fantastic BUT, it was like landings a shopping cart. BTW, I fly for Untied now on the 767.

[@woolmer608]

Such a beautiful aircraft,love that sound a good P&W radial makes.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Nothing like it.

[@garnetmaynard1867]

Great way to start my day Thanks

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Welcome

[@bernardanderson3758]

This is what I’m looking for for in a piston twin and Mark you have really made your channel number one

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks. We are only getting started and it is a steep learning curve with not a lot of experience on KZbin.

[@planeflyer21]

Thanks, Mark. That was cool! When I was a young boy, there was an outift at Tucson International doing turboprop conversions on the Beech 18s. That really ignited the imagination of this kid!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks. Yes, turboprops and on DC3's too.

[@biggusbestus551]

As a child Mom took me to see "It's a Mad Mad Mad World". I became a Beech fan that day. To my surprise during Vietnam the Army sent me to fixed wing instead of Helicopters . Better yet the Beech King Air (67G20) school in Virginia ...how lucky was that ?

[@envitech02]

Love the chrome look so reminescent of WWII B17G. I call this a "naked" plane.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was a treat to video this one!

[@scotabot7826]

Right up there with the DC-3 and the J-3 Cub. It's indeed a very special aircraft!!

[@doubleitp]

Man oh man.....MSFS 2020 graphics are unreal ;)

[@hoggravyandchitlins]

What's left of a Beech 18 has been wasting away for decades in the Nevada desert outside of a former brothel. Legend has it the proprietor of the cathouse was performing some sort of promotional stunt involving the ladies of the house and the plane was somehow involved doing flybys? Anyway the pilot became "distracted" by the ladies on the ground and crashed the plane, as I remember everyone was ok except the Beech.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Are there pictures of it.

[@hoggravyandchitlins]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I left a link but its gone.🤷‍♂

[@jiyushugi1085]

Epic! Beautiful airplane. I've got a couple hundred hours in a Beech 18 flying cargo in Hawaii (N933T). Ours was probably the last B-18 to fly the U.S. mail. We'd fly empty from HNL to KOA, fill 'er up with mail and return to HNL at sundown -- great memories which I'll always treasure. Ours wasn't nearly as pretty though - she'd been 'ridden hard and put away wet' for many years. Donated to the local A&P school, sadly.....

[@pposz2215]

BTW, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is showing it's a Mad, Mad, Mad world very soon, where they fly a Beech 18 through the Bill Board! They REALLY did that! you can read the story about the stunt on the internet!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

In all my years of flying, I've never said to myself, "You should fly this plane through that billboard!" Nope. Not even once.

[@petermacfly6574]

Superbe vidéo ! Merci de nous faire rêver...🤩 Je n'ai pu piloter qu'un DR400 en France, mais j'ai toujours été fasciné par les Beechcraft. Bons vols ! Google translate = Great video ! Thank you for making us dream... I have only been able to fly a DR400 in France, but I have always been fascinated by Beechcraft. Good flights!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you for watching. I've flown a DR400 in England. Great planes.

[@waynehurtig8198]

another great video

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidhames319]

Very cool history on that beech 18. I live about an hour from Winston-Salem in North Carolina

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We enjoyed making this video. It has the distinction of having a second edit of the same footage to create a period piece. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZzGZ3SvZ519bcU

[@mikewaterfield3599]

Now there is a classic.

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

That was awesome to watch

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

There is just something timeless about the Beech 18.

[@bobrichardson5905]

Kudos to the drone operator..wish it was me

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is all Don the Cameraman

[@CMACJAZZ]

Thanks , stunning.

[@johnparkman5980]

One of my favorite aircraft...back in the mid 1980's we used a twin beech as a jump plane at both Suffolk, VA and West Point, VA for skydiving...it was an awesome aircraft. They both held 12 jumpers and the pilot. One jumper had to sit in the copilot's seat and the other 11 sat in two rows facing backwards sitting on the floor between the next person's legs.

[@brianstaude2783]

Yeh, get the "copilot" out and dressed as we turn on jump run... good times.

[@peterellison2220]

Just listened to the AOPA podcast involving this type of Twin Beech. There were so many technical comments on the show that I just had to see it myself. What an iconic airplane with so much history

[@foesfly3047]

I just discovered your channel and watched at least 6 videos already. This is my favorite so far. Your little airport is about the coolest one anywhere. And the Beech 18 is so loaded with Mojo 😎

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We're glad you found us! That Beech 18 was truly a beauty!

[@flightsaitek4087]

This looks just like the Beech 18 that was at the MHR 2019 Capital Airshow, as I recall this is the same plane. Such a wonderful airplane! Staggerwing, Beech 18, 195 all sitting in the dream hangar next to giant barrels of oil. Of course, they would all have to be bought from Mark’s Skywagons. Great tour around the beech and the owners feedback on the rewarding experience of flying it correctly!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, that is the Same Beech 18 that was at Mather.

[@francisconti9085]

What a ride!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It really was.

[@ackack612]

This just takes cool to another level! Even better the 2nd time.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was fantastic, yes. Very cool to be able to fly it so easily as Jimmy does.

[@pietervaness3229]

Love those 18s ... never flew one ... YET !

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Good attitude.

[@jingle1161]

omg what a beautiful plane...

[@jimfinlaw4537]

I too just discovered your channel. That Beech 18 is one beautiful looking bird. I worked on one when I was in A&P school and it was labor of love. My father flew the AT-11 military version of the Beech 18 during WWII when he was stationed at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida and he loved flying that plane. Think he also flew a high ranking general around in the transport version as well when he was in the Army Air Force.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for sharing that, Jim.

[@ditto1958]

I think I may have had that plane on MS Flight Simulator. Or if not, it was an old twin that looked very similar. Anyway, what a beautiful Beechcraft!

[@moriver3857]

Very nice. Elegancy at its best. That engine is the small block (chevy) of radial engines. Looks superbly maintained. The retro video at the end was a nice touch.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you, Mo! I was kinda proud of that and made a short video of the same plane in the same vein. Glad you liked it. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@ronboe6325]

This brings back memories. On a ride along before class, fall of '73 we were in a 172 (I think) between LaCrosse and Winona flying back to Winona in that wonderful pre-dawn light when turbine converted Beech 18 came out of the west streaking to the east - fast! Naturally the only noise was the drone of our aircraft so it was like watching a silent movie. Very impressive.

[@stevegriffiths4954]

WOW! What a plane ❤

[@emilepellerin6064]

During the fall of 1974... I and two other people including the pilot. Crashed a Beach-18. In the tundra of Canada's North West Territories. East of Baker Lake. No one was seriously injured. It was three days. Then finally found buy the RCAF search and rescue.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Damn. I bet that was an adventure.

[@flynjracer3678]

Damn it Juan, if I had known there was gonna be an oral, I would have studied. ;-) I have had the good fortune to not only ride in this airplane with Jimmy, but fly with him in the go fast money makers. He is truly one of the finest professionals I have had the pleasure to work with in my career.

[@williamnovas9491]

Nice clean windshield.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Specially for the video....

[@williamnovas9491]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 clan as in note dirty but 18s had a swing window a sliding window and of i remeber right 2 or 3 pieces of Glass.

[@SCTV59]

I owned a lil' twin tail for two years...the lowley Ercoupe! Your 18 is fantastic!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks.

[@dolphinerofachero3159]

What a beautiful aircraft, hopefully I get to fly one someday

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was fun.

[@balsumfractus]

I got about 10 minutes stick time on one from the right seat about 20 years ago. Very smooth and solid as I recall...no more difficult to handle than the 172 I was used to flying.......

[@LittleManFlying]

What were you up to in The Great Land, and when? I flew Part 135 out of Bethel and Talkeetna during much of the '90s. Can you point me to a bio? BTW, Hagaland was running a D-18-S out of Bethel when I was working out there. It was a maintenance nightmare. Beech wouldn't admit to ever having built it. 😆 But, my goodness, it was a glorious machine!