Beechcraft designations

[hesham]

Beech aircraft:

model-40 :experimental model-35 with two 180 hp Franklin engines mounted
in nose driving one propeller.
model-112 :1957 twin tuboprop businees aircraft project with two Lycoming
T-53 engines.
model-120 :1962 twin turboprop pressurized business aircraft project with two
Turbomeca Bastan engines.
Beech PD.290 :experimental conversion of King Air 200 with two P&W
JT15D-4 turbojet engines.
Beech PD.336 :single engined turboprop aircraft based on Model-58P
airframe with modified tail and Garrett TPE331-9
turboprop engine.

 

[Stargazer]

As I haven't found any topic on the subject, allow me to start one (if ever this duplicates something, sorry!)

Instead of starting with the usual Beechcraft model number list (Models 16 to 101 in my notes) I thought it could be nice to deal with something a lot more unusual: an apparently out-of-sequence set of designations that end up making quite a coherent batch of missiles/drones in the 995 > 1100+ range.

995 probably the YBQM-126A prototype
997 BQM-126A, based on Model 1089
999E/H MQM-107B/-107C/-107D STREAKER
999A export version of MQM-107A for Sweden and designated RB06 GIRUN
999B export version of MQM-107B for Sweden and designated RB06B GIRUN
999D export version of MQM-107A for the Republic of Korea, Iran, Jordan
999E export version of MQM-107A for Abu Dhabi
999F export version of MQM-107A for Taiwan
999 MQM-107E STREAKER, initially known as the "SUPER MQM"
999 export version of MQM-107E for Australia designated the N28 KALKARA
999H export version of MQM-107B for Egypt
999L export version of MQM-107B Egypt, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
999M export version for Egypt, no details
1001 US Navy XKDB-1, KDB-1 CARDINAL
1001A MQM-39A CARDINAL
1006-04 explosive destructor for AQM-37 (made by Beech?)
1019 US Navy XKD2B-1, KD2B-1, AQM-37A JAYHAWK [WS-462L] and USAF Q-12 / AQM-37B JAYHAWK
1025 MQM-61A CARDINAL
1025-TJ proposed turbojet version, also designated Model 1055
1055 Universal Drone System; medium high performance, subsonic, turbojet-powered derivative of MQM-39 and -61
?? SANDPIPER; AQM-37 modification with "hybrid" engines using solid fuel with storable nitric acid oxidizer (led to AQM-81A)
1069 high-altitude supersonic target (HAST) vehicle powered by Marquardt MA 206-XAA ramjet engine
1070 high-altitude supersonic target (HAST); tri-service target capable of flying at Mach 4 (XAQM-81A)
1072 AQM-37 modified for Britain as the Short S.D.2, later licence-built as the Shorts S.D.2A STILETTO
1074 US Army Y/QU-22A PAVE EAGLE I (modified Model E33); also known as "BABY BAT"
1079 US Army Y/QU-22B PAVE EAGLE II (modified Model A36); also known as "BABY BAT" and "BABY SNOOPY"
1080 wingtip mounted hose-and-drogue or centerline pods flight refueling system (as used on Boeing 707)
1088 target developed from Model 1072, no details
1089 MQM-107A STREAKER variable-speed training target (VSTT) (see Model 999 for later production)
1092 pilotless recoverable target drone, no details
1094 Beech designation for the Matra VANNEAU, the French version of the AQM-37A
1095 Beech designation for the Shorts SD.2A STILETTO, the British version of the AQM-37A
1098 target?, no details
?? VSTT targets modified for Tactical Expendable Drone System (TEDS) program
1100 AQM-37A JAYHAWK equipped with a two-stage parachute recovery system
1101 AQM-37A JAYHAWK equipped with a two-stage parachute recovery system
1102 AQM-37A, non-recoverable, solid-state autopilot, improved wings for higher performance
?? CHALLENGER; AQM-37As modified with refined high-g autopilot, enlarged heat-resistant tail surfaces (USN); led to AQM-37C
1104 AQM-37C version for export
1105 AQM-37 version, no details
1107 AQM-37 version, no details
1108 AQM-37 version for export no details
?? RAIDER; a recoverable tactical UAV for active and passive countermeasures, derived from the basic MQM-107
?? DREEM (Drone RF Electronic Enhancement Mechanism), a modified MQM-107D built by Boeing under USAF contract

Hope this helps and some can add to this research!

List updated December 21st, 2010

 

[Stargazer]

Here is a list of all the basic Beechcraft Model designations I have. Any additions and corrections are most welcome!

16 experimental all-metal low-wing light trainer
17 STAGGERWING / TRAVELER
18 TWIN BEECH / EXPEDITOR / KANSAN / NAVIGATOR
19 MUSKETEER SPORT / SPORT
20 TWIN STAGGERWING (project)
23 MUSKETEER / CUSTOM / SUPER / SUNDOWNER
24 MUSKETEER / SPORT / SUPER / SIERRA
25 WICHITA (prototype)
26 WICHITA (AT-10)
28 GRIZZLY / DESTROYER (A-38)
33 DEBONAIR / BONANZA
34 TWIN QUAD
35 BONANZA / DEBONAIR
36 BONANZA
38 LIGHTNING
40 BONANZA; experimental 35 w/ 2x 180 hp Franklin engines mounted in nose driving one propeller
44 KD-VI pilotless target for US Navy
45 MENTOR / TURBO MENTOR
46 XT-36 low-wing all-metal crew trainer (cancelled)
50 TWIN BONANZA / SEMINOLE
55 BARON / COCHISE
56 TURBO BARON
58 BARON / PRESSURIZED BARON
60 DUKE / MARQUIS / PRESSURIZED DUKE
65 QUEEN AIR / SEMINOLE / PRESSURIZED QUEEN AIR / HURON / KING AIR
70 QUEEN AIR / QUEEN AIRLINER
73 JET MENTOR
76 DUCHESS
77 SKIPPER
79 QUEEN AIRLINER
80 QUEEN AIR
81 project
84 twin-jet proposal for US Navy (Spangenberg Index)
85 PRESSURIZED QUEEN AIR
87 SEMINOLE; US Army NU-8F/YU-21 prototype
88 PRESSURIZED QUEEN AIR
89 QUEEN AIRLINER
90 KING AIR / UTE / JAGUAR / PEGASUS
95 BADGER / TRAVEL AIR / BARON / COCHISE
95 no details
99 AIRLINER / EXECUTIVE / COMMUTER

100 KING AIR / UTE
101 SUPER KING AIR; KING AIR 200 prototype
112 twin-turboprop business project with 2 x Lycoming T-53s
115 projected C-10A military transport; cancelled
118 three-engined experimental aircraft; no details
120 twin-turboprop pressurized business project with Turbomeca Bastan
125 HAWKER JET, also known as BH-125 series

200 KING AIR / HURON / GUARDRAIL / MARITIME MONITOR
278 all-metal constant-speed airscrew
299 project developed from Model 99 with twin turboprop engines

300 SUPER KING AIR
350 SUPER KING AIR / GUARDRAIL
385 Buddy refuelling packs
390 PREMIER I

400 KING AIR 400 (see PD-290)
400 (2) BEECHJET / JAYHAWK
400 (3) HAWKER 400
499 project developed from Model 99 with four turboprop engines

600 HAWKER 600; formerly known as the BAe 125-600

800 HAWKER 800; formerly known as the BAe 125-800

1200 KING AIR 1200 (no details)
1300 SUPER KING AIR
1900 EXEC-LINER / AIRLINER / HURON / COMMUTER / GUARDRAIL

2000 STARSHIP (JETFAN STARSHIP I)

3000 TEXAN II (T-6 primary trainer)

4000 HAWKER HORIZON

PD-18S TURBO TRAVELAIR; Beech-SFERMA version of Model 18 with Turbomeca Bastan (also found as PD-18.9)
PD-60 liaison observation airplane proposal for US Navy (Spangenberg Index)
PD-66 US Navy multi-engine utility transport proposal (Spangenberg Index)
PD-75 US Navy target drone proposal similar to KDB-1 (Spangenberg Index)
PD-93 target drone proposal for US Navy (Spangenberg Index)
PD-104 no details
PD-109 proposed observation aircraft for US Navy (Spangenberg Index)
PD-111 Admiral-Beech Bomber Defense Missile (BDM) proposal for US Navy (Spangenberg Index)
PD-121 ramjet-powered target-drone
PD-122 Navy & Air Force expandable powered target system proposal for F4D and F-102 (Spangenberg Index)
PD-146 six-seat Beech-SFERMA derivative of the BARON (SFERMA 60/A)
PD-183 COIN competitor for LARA program
PD-200 development prototype of Model 99
PD-208 development prototype of Model 99
PD-249 US Army YAU-22A PAVE COIN, an improved D33 DEBONAIR
PD-285 SKIPPER (Model 77 prototype)
PD-289 DUCHESS (Model 76 prototype)
PD-290 KING AIR 400; experimental conversion of KING AIR 200 w/ 2 x P&W JT15D-4 turbojets
PD-330 preliminary design for the STARSHIP
PD-336 LIGHTNING; Model 38P prototype with Garrett TPE331-9 turboprop
PD-373 BEECH Mk.II Pilatus PC-9 demonstrator
PD-374 pre-PREMIER design (1994)
PD-375 pre-HORIZON design
PD-376 pre-HORIZON 1000 design
PD-383 pre-HORIZON design
PD-402 Hawker-Beechcraft design, no detail

T-122 JAYHAWK (T-1A)

F-1 two/three-turbofan engined project
F-2 four-turbofan engined project
F-3 three-turbofan engined project


List updated December 21st, 2010

 

[hesham]

My dear Stargazer2006,

you forget the PD.121;
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8244.0/highlight,beech+pd.html

 

[Stargazer]

Didn't know it! I'll add it right away... Thanks!

 

[Stargazer]

Forgot an important one... PD-330 was the 1980 original design for the STARSHIP, later refined by Rutan. Also added PD-402 and Model 1200.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

for Model-3000;
http://www.aerofiles.com/_beech.html
and there is also Model-97 and Beechcraft-SFERMA PD-146 Turbo Travelair,

Model-1070 HAST (high altitude supersonic target)
Model-1088 was a target developed from Model-1072
Model-1092 pilotless recoverable target drone

 

[hesham]

Hi,

for Beech Model-1080;

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982%20-%200988.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%202245.html

 

[Stargazer]

Thanks for the addition!

I have some more nuggets for this thread which I collected in the Spangenberg Index, courtesy of RyanCrierie:

- Model 44 KD-VI pilotless target for US Navy
- PD-60 liaison observation airplane proposal for US Navy
- PD-66 multi-engine utility transport proposal for US Navy
- PD-75 target drone proposal for US Navy
- Model 84 twin-jet proposal for US Navy
- PD-93 target drone proposal for US Navy
- Model 97 (no details)
- PD-109 proposed observation aircraft for US Navy
- PD-111 Admiral-Beech bomber defense missile proposal for US Navy
- PD-122 Navy & Air Force expendable powered target system proposal for F4D and F-102

 

[hesham]

Hi,

1069 was a high-altitude supersonic target vehicle powered by
Marquardt MA 206-XAA ramjet engine.

http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0869190

 

[Stargazer]

All Beechcraft lists up in this page have been updated with all the newest additions, some never mentioned in the previous posts. It remains a BASIC list (i.e. no subtypes except for the four-digit series) because that would take us too far... Maybe I'll get around to it some time. Meanwhile, if you see any mistake or any addition, feel free to post in this thread!!

 

[hesham]

Hi,

Beechcraft-SFERMA PD-146 Turbo Travelair,

here is the Beech-SFERMA PD-146 Marquis.

http://aerophile.over-blog.com/

 

[Stargazer]

Thanks hesham. And here's another one:

 

[Stargazer]

Here is a document from the French weekly Aviation Magazine and published circa 1970.
I have scanned, cleaned up and enhanced it by redrawing all the arrows and lines, giving them colors.

 

[Stargazer]

The very same diagram in a 1977 update, straight from a Beechcraft advertisement published in FLYING, September 1977.

 

[Steve Pace]

BRILLIANT!

 

[Stargazer]

From the Bernard Lindenbaum Vertical Flight Research Collection:

Model 33...............wind tunnel tests in 1947, no details (the Model 33 BONANZA [single fin] /DEBONAIR came much later than that)
Model 37...............wind-tunnel tests in 1947, no details (maybe a rotorcraft project?)
Model 38...............wind-tunnel tests in 1947, no details (number reused much later for the Model 38P LIGHTNING)

 

[famvburg]

As you can see in the pic, it's a 55 Baron, not a 60 Duke, with Astazous.

Thanks hesham. And here's another one:

 

[Maveric]

P.D 374

 

[hesham]

P.D 374

I sent it before my dear Maveric;


http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1314.msg110395.html#msg110395

 

[Maveric]

Sorry I used the Search-function but without a goal

 

[hesham]

Hi,


1013 was designed for photographic and television recce RPV project,
powered by one 110 hp McCulloch engine.

 

[Grey Havoc]

By any chance, was the Model 32 the Plainsman Concept Car?

[IMAGE CREDIT: 2007 Publications International, Ltd/howstuffworks blog]

 

[Stargazer]

Wow. Never heard of the Plainsman before. Great addition to the Beechcraft lore!

What makes you think this might have been the "Model 32"? Do you have clues to support this, or is it merely a wild guess based on the fact that it came out before the Model 34 Twin Quad and Model 35 Bonanza?

 

[Grey Havoc]

Wow. Never heard of the Plainsman before. Great addition to the Beechcraft lore!

What makes you think this might have been the "Model 32"? Do you have clues to support this, or is it merely a wild guess based on the fact that it came out before the Model 34 Twin Quad and Model 35 Bonanza?

My suspicion about the designation comes from the fact that work on the project began in late December 1945, and the go-ahead for the original Model 33 seems to have been given in very late December or early 1946. That doesn't make it a slam dunk of course. They could have gone with a letter code instead for example.

 

[Stargazer]

My suspicion about the designation comes from the fact that work on the project began in late December 1945, and the go-ahead for the original Model 33 seems to have been given in very late December or early 1946. That doesn't make it a slam dunk of course. They could have gone with a letter code instead for example.

You came up with "Model 32" on the premise that Beechcraft followed a perfectly logical and chronological order for its types AND that a car would necessarily fit into the same list as their aircraft productions. Although the former was probably still true in 1945-46 (there was a Model 33 in 1946 that was NOT the later Bonanza) there is indeed no guarantee about the latter. Even if true, the Plainsman could also have been Model 29, 30 or 31, right? Unless you know the allocation for these three numbers, which I personally don't. So?

 

[Stargazer]

For anyone interested in the one- or two-letter codes which Beechcraft uses to prefix their constructor's numbers, here is a link to a totally up-to-date file posted on November 13, 2013 by the company on their official site:
http://www.beechcraft.com/customer_support/technical_publications/docs/nontechnical/serializationList.pdf

 

[Grey Havoc]

You came up with "Model 32" on the premise that Beechcraft followed a perfectly logical and chronological order for its types AND that a car would necessarily fit into the same list as their aircraft productions. Although the former was probably still true in 1945-46 (there was a Model 33 in 1946 that was NOT the later Bonanza) there is indeed no guarantee about the latter. Even if true, the Plainsman could also have been Model 29, 30 or 31, right? Unless you know the allocation for these three numbers, which I personally don't. So?

All good points. As I said, it was just a suspicion.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Kirsten Dirksen
Published on Jul 28, 2019
Supported by tension cables around a central mast, the Dymaxion House was a light-weight, prefab home designed to be flat-packed and shipped worldwide in a metal tube. Drawn up by Buckminster Fuller in the 1920s, he finally built the prototype in 1945 working with Beech Aircraft to take advantage of materials like aluminum and labor primed for WWII production.

Fuller coined the "Dymaxion" term by combining “dy” (dynamic), “max” (maximum), and “ion”(tension) and created both a home and car around the concept. Built of light-weight materials- aluminum and plexiglass-, the home weighed only 3000 pounds, but could withstand winds of 120 miles per hour and was earthquake and stormproof. It required no maintenance and could be heated and cooled by natural ventilation (a rotating vent on the roof circulated air through the home every 6 minutes).

Fuller patented the “Dymaxion Bathroom” - a shower that required only one cup of hot water, and a toilet that consumed no water at all. O-Volving Shelves required no bending; rotating closets brought the clothes to you. The floorplan and room sizes could be adjusted for parties.

The dismountable home was priced at $6,500 which was not much more than the median home price of $5,000 (50% of which came only with an outhouse). It was never mass produced, but the ideas behind it remain cutting-edge even today.

https://faircompanies.com/videos/dyma...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxio...

 

[masher47]

The Beech PD-66 was not only a multiengine but also a multi-winged transport. Here is the data from the archives. Some files are too big, will try to reduce and reload them. This is a four engined triplane.

 

[hesham]

Many thanks to you Masher47,

and please if you have a more of Beech Projects,you can send them.

 

[Grey Havoc]

The Beech PD-66 was not only a multiengine but also a multi-winged transport. Here is the data from the archives. Some files are too big, will try to reduce and reload them. This is a four engined triplane.

Navy Equivalent - Proposed ASW Utility Airplane.

For supporting mobile coastal ASW units?

 

[Grey Havoc]

28 GRIZZLY / DESTROYER (A-38)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncksiFPrL-M

 

[Maveric]

The Beechcraft Model 40 was an experimental twin-engined aircraft based on the Bonanza. Only one prototype was built in 1948. It featured a unique over/under arrangement of two 180-hp Franklin engines mounted with one on top of the other and driving a single propeller. The plane had a different engine cowl from a standard Bonanza, and the nose gear could not fully retract, but otherwise it greatly resembled the production Bonanzas of the time. Certification rules demanded a firewall be fitted between the two engines, however, thus stopping development. The FAA registration of the Model 40 was canceled on January 26, 1951.

(From Wikipedia)

Do any of you have a photo of this prototype?

 

[Stargazer]

The Beechcraft Model 40 was an experimental twin-engined aircraft based on the Bonanza. Only one prototype was built in 1948. It featured a unique over/under arrangement of two 180-hp Franklin engines mounted with one on top of the other and driving a single propeller. The plane had a different engine cowl from a standard Bonanza, and the nose gear could not fully retract, but otherwise it greatly resembled the production Bonanzas of the time. Certification rules demanded a firewall be fitted between the two engines, however, thus stopping development. The FAA registration of the Model 40 was canceled on January 26, 1951.

(From Wikipedia)

Do any of you have a photo of this prototype?

No photos, unfortunately. Here's another short text saved in 2012 from the site kamov.net that no longer exists:

In 1948, a Model 35 was modified by Beech as the Model 40. This aircraft was powered by two 180hp Franklin installed in an over-under arrangement in a single-nose cowling and geared to drive a single propeller. This project was abandoned after FAA requirement for a firewall between the engines led to impossible servicing.

Additionally, the same page provided info on further Bonanza modifications:

Colemill Enterprises Inc of Nashville, Tennessee, offered conversion of Models S35, V35A and V35B with new 300hp Teledyne Continental 10-550-B engines, driving Hartzell Sabre Blade four-blade Q_-tip propellers and Zip Tip winglets. Such modified aircraft, known as Colemill Starfire Bonanzas, had a cruising speed of 203mph (326km/h) and a maximum rate of climb of 1,210ft/min (369m/min).

R/STOL Systems of Raleigh, North Carolina, modified a Model V35B with a full-span trailing-edge flap system and a full-span distributed-camber leading-edge as well as vortex generators to improve low-speed performance and to permit safe STOL landings and take-offs. With these modifications the takeoff run was reduced to 785ft (239m) and landing run was reduced to 478ft (146m).

Mike Smith Aero Series modified Bonanzas to straight tail configuration. One aircraft is known to have been so modified (c/n D-8249, Nil IMS).

 

[boxkite]

No photos, unfortunately. Here's another short text saved in 2012 from the site kamov.net that no longer exists:

In 1948, a Model 35 was modified by Beech as the Model 40. This aircraft was powered by two 180hp Franklin installed in an over-under arrangement in a single-nose cowling and geared to drive a single propeller. This project was abandoned after FAA requirement for a firewall between the engines led to impossible servicing.

Incidentally, this is taken verbatim from the Putnam volume ‘Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors’ (page 93). Unfortunately, there is no illustration of the Model 40.