BA-428 E18S-9700 N379B Kawneer Co, subsidiary of American Metal Climax, Niles, MI deliv Jun59 (CAR Jun68). Patrick Plywood Enterprises (later Patrick Industries), Elkhart, IN (CAR Jun69, Jan72). Plastronic Packaging Corp, Stevensville, MI (CAR Jul72). Millardair Ltd, Toronto, ONT ’73 as CF-WDV. Regis canx May93. Casablanca Air Transport Inc, Ridgewood, NJ reg’d 20May93 as N7058U. Classic Air Transport Inc, Ridgewood, NJ reg’d Jan94. Mercy Air (Ron & Barbara Wayner), White River, RSA reg’d Mar94. Deliv flt from US (still reg’d N7058U) via Newfoundland, the Azores, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Namibia, Johannesburg & then to White River, RSA in Apr94 (57 hrs over 5 days). Extended nose built by Nel Air, a South African Aircraft Maintenance Organization, under the Vancouver Island Air Svc STC (orig Hamilton STC), Reg’d 26Oct98 as ZS-OIJ. Accid 4Sep00 Mozambique partial loss of power, left l/g damage & prop strike. Extended nose removed sometime between Aug07 & Aug08 so aircraft could be used as backup in some of the filming done in the RSA of the Amelia Earhart film. Ataleur Avn, Namibia bought it Dec09. Extended nose reinstalled. Compiled by Bob Parmerter Historian Beechcraft Heritage Museum, Tullahoma, TN author of "Beech 18: A Civil & Military History" email Museum for details info@beechcraftheritagemuseum.org
Build in 1959
She (the aircraft :)) was hired for some film shootings for the AMELIA ERHARD MOVIE with Hillary Swank and Richard Gere.
Movie was released end of 2009.
The current colours are the same as used in the movie
Previous owner of aircraft - Mercy Air (they do voluntary medical evacuation work 'flying doctors')
There website is www.mercyair.org
1 crew + 10 passengers
Max speed: 225 mph / 195 knots / 360 km/h
2 x radial engines
Some history on the Beech:
* The Beechcraft Model 18 or 'Twin Beech' as it was better known, saw military service during and after World War II
* The aircraft's uses have included aerial spraying, aerial firefighting, ambulance service, skydiving, numerous movie productions etc
* The Model 18 was the first aircraft flown by Philippine Airlines, Asia's first and oldest airline. Many are now in private hands as prized collectibles.
* The Beech 18 prototype first flew on 15 January 1937. Construction ended in 1970 with the last aircraft going to Japan Airlines. Beechcraft set a record that still stands today for longest continuous production of a piston engine aircraft.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteHere is some history of your Beech 18
BA-428 E18S-9700 N379B Kawneer Co, subsidiary of American Metal Climax, Niles, MI deliv Jun59 (CAR Jun68). Patrick Plywood Enterprises (later Patrick Industries), Elkhart, IN (CAR Jun69, Jan72). Plastronic Packaging Corp, Stevensville, MI (CAR Jul72). Millardair Ltd, Toronto, ONT ’73 as CF-WDV. Regis canx May93. Casablanca Air Transport Inc, Ridgewood, NJ reg’d 20May93 as N7058U. Classic Air Transport Inc, Ridgewood, NJ reg’d Jan94.
Mercy Air (Ron & Barbara Wayner), White River, RSA reg’d Mar94. Deliv flt from US (still reg’d N7058U) via Newfoundland, the Azores, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Namibia, Johannesburg & then to White River, RSA in Apr94 (57 hrs over 5 days). Extended nose built by Nel Air, a South African Aircraft Maintenance Organization, under the Vancouver Island Air Svc STC (orig Hamilton STC), Reg’d 26Oct98 as ZS-OIJ. Accid 4Sep00 Mozambique partial loss of power, left l/g damage & prop strike. Extended nose removed sometime between Aug07 & Aug08 so aircraft could be used as backup in some of the filming done in the RSA of the Amelia Earhart film. Ataleur Avn, Namibia bought it Dec09. Extended nose reinstalled.
Compiled by Bob Parmerter Historian Beechcraft Heritage Museum, Tullahoma, TN author of "Beech 18: A Civil & Military History" email Museum for details info@beechcraftheritagemuseum.org