Beech 18 G-BKGM

Nice to see she is in her Harvard Formation Team colours still, SEAC getting show down by Gary Numan at all the airshows:D

In theory you could have a lot more than a duo, maybe even 5 up – an echo of the Rapide formation a couple of years ago….:)

TT

Thanks for the info Blue Leader!
Perhaps at Legends 2007 or 2008 we could have a Beech duo!?

……it was 2003, pictures here.

http://www.ukairshows.info/2003/airshows/legends/review.html

Beech 18 at Legends

The Beech 18 Operated by the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford was displayed at the Flying Legends Airshow two or thee years ago. I believe it was flown by John Webb, Gary Numan’s brother.

Beech KGM

This Beech 18 has been in these colours since at least 1986, when it was based at North Weald with The Harvard Formation team and used to simulate being ‘shot down’ at air shows by Gary Numnan in his Harvard painted as a Zero!

********Nice to see KGM (HB 275) again — I feel sure that she was at N/Weald with ‘The Harvard Formation Team’, & later ‘The Squadron’, maybe from as early as the late 1970s.
I flew in her with Anthony Hutton & Pete Treadaway in early 1987, out of N/Weald, with Gary Numan formating on our wing tip in Harvard G-AZSC. At one point he rolled over the top of us, & back into position, great stuff!!!

Sadly Pete Treadaway lost his life in the ‘Rapide’ crash at Audley End in around 1991.

The last time I saw Gary’s ‘Zero’ / Harvard it had changed it’s ‘White scheme’ into a ghastly ‘All over Black’ one. — nice to see that the ‘Mother Ship’ has retained the ‘original’ markings.

Dustyone

Is it usual to taxy with your flaps down….over grass? 😮 😮

TT

Starboard U/C

The “abandoned” Beech 18 refered to in RLangham’s post is of course N96240 (formerly G-AYAH), however it is definitely not abandoned.

It was damaged in the gales last winter when the starboard u/c partially failed. The owners I understand are looking for a replacement unit.

G-APDK

They are available in the states no problem, and Beech Restorations have offered theirs on loan but no-one has got back to us.

All we can do is try to help

The “abandoned” Beech 18 refered to in RLangham’s post is of course N96240 (formerly G-AYAH), however it is definitely not abandoned.

It was damaged in the gales last winter when the starboard u/c partially failed. The owners I understand are looking for a replacement unit.

G-APDK

This Beech 18 has been in these colours since at least 1986, when it was based at North Weald with The Harvard Formation team and used to simulate being ‘shot down’ at air shows by Gary Numnan in his Harvard painted as a Zero!

Mark
Those were really nice photos of this classic aircraft. I expect the aircraft owner was pleased with them?
Freebird

I don’t know if he’s seen them yet 🙂
Thanks for the comments everyone – hopefully the aeroplane will be at Legends one day. Come on TFC, book her! 😀

Wouldn’t exactly say USAAF schemes are the usual, at least over here anyway – in the UK and Ireland there’s only one in USAAF colours (maybe two, can’t remember what the abandoned one’s colours are).

Southern Comfort in Ireland is in civvy colours, polished aluminium
East Fortune’s is in civvy colours too
Beech Restorations is USN, and looks ace
N2500 at Brunty is in civvy colours and her new scheme also looks pretty good

then that just leaves the one abandoned on an airfield (North Weald I think), the USAAF one at Duxford and, of course, G-BKGM at Exeter

Makes a nice change from the usual USAAF-style schemes! 🙂

Beech 18

Mark

Those were really nice photos of this classic aircraft. I expect the aircraft owner was pleased with them?

Freebird

Thanks for the pics – beautiful plane and interesting markings too