BEECH 18, N96240

problem I think is the wing spar strap. Many were left to rot in the 70’s when the AD came out.They all need the spar kit if they are to fly again. J Boyle, why not offer the rest of that free 18 to these guys?: http://www.twinbeech.com/
At least that would give the old gal some good use. maybe even a second life!

Beech 18

N96240 at North Weald, 27th February, 2007.

Edwards boys do still own it

they are having problems getting an undercarriage drag leg. We have offered one of ours temporarily but not heard back yet.

it got damaged in the january winds.

a couple of guys are trying to look after it for the edwards boys and they are trying to get it under cover.

philip
www.beechrestorations.com

p.s, if anyone wants to give us another beech 18 and spare engines, we will take it.

N96240 at North Weald, 27th February, 2007.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=96240

and still are from the look of this link…..

At one point the Edwards brothers were linked with it as its owners.

Here’s one that sits on the airport that I live on.

In my youth…back in the early 80s i went to Van Nuys and there were several lying around. The wing AD and the demand for enigines, cowls and props all conspired (along with the glut of new and more efficient planes in the 70s) to put a lot of Twin Beechs out to pasture.

The CAF Big Country Squadron in Abilene bought a nice executive configured 18 for parts for their C-45 restoration. They pushed the fuselafge out along the runway, its door open and it was still fitted with a nice executive interior.

Pity…a great and historic airplane. Agruably the worlds first modern corporate aircraft, with ..as you say, a long production run.
The final few (with the nose gear option) were sold to JAL as multi-engine trainers.

It is sad that it isn’t even worth hangar space, perhaps if some aviation school could even use it for a teaching tool. Let some kids practice on it! Better than rotting away, going to the scrappers or used for fire training! I didn’t realize that they were still in production until 1970 and the US Army still used the C-45 version until 1976. But just an old airplane?! There has got to be a better use than more soda cans!

…but if someone with deep pockets from across the pond buys it to restore it..I can hears the howls of protest already!;)

Not gonna happen. There are too many homeless 18s in the US that are probably in better shape and would have lower shipping costs.

A friend was just offered a FREE 18 with two spare engines. Airframe was in good shape when it last flew, and two of the engines were overhauled just before it was parked. The owner left it for some work but never came back…possibly because of a issue with law enforcement officials..it seems
18s were popular as “unscheduled freighters” in the 70s. 😀
It’s in the Pacific NW so it’s been wet but its hardly a corrosion type atmosphere.
He figures the cost to restore would be just shy of 100K, transport would be a couple of thousand, but the deal killer is operating costs.

So my friend will propbaly take the engine cores as well as cowls and props for his Stearman fleet.

…but if someone with deep pockets from across the pond buys it to restore it..I can hears the howls of protest already!;)

It is a shame, and it happens here too. It all boils down to money, or the lack there of. Flyable, they really can be worth something. A quick google and I saw Beech 18 flyers running from $66,000 to 350,000. But if the corrosion has set in…..Static Museum display perhaps? Just not as desirable as a vintage war bird!