Beechcraft 1900
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Beechcraft 1900 Beechliner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Sunwest Aviation Beechcraft 1900D Beechliner at Vancouver International Airport | |
| Type | Regional airliner, cargo, and corporate aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft Division of Raytheon |
| Maiden flight | September 3, 1982 |
| Introduced | February 1983 |
| Produced | 1982-2002 |
| Number built | 697 |
The Beechcraft 1900 Beechliner is a 19-seat, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company. Commonly used as a regional airliner, it is also found in cargo and corporate operations.
Contents |
[edit] Development, certification, and production
The Beechcraft 1900 was developed from the King Air 200 version of the King Air line of business aircraft. The 1900 first flew on September 3, 1982, with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification awarded in November 1983 under Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 41C airworthiness standards. Like the 1900, the 1900C was certified under SFAR 41C, but the later 1900D version was certified to FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards.
The 1900 entered service in February 1984, with the first ExecLiner corporate version delivered in 1985. A total of 697 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft were built. With market trends favoring larger 50- to 90-seat regional jets, Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in October 2002. Many airlines continue to fly the 1900.
[edit] Design and variants
Since the 1900 is derived from the King Air, all 1900s share certain characteristics with the King Air. Cockpit controls and operations are similar to those of the King Air. While Federal Aviation Regulations require two pilots for airline operations, the 1900 is designed and certificated for single-pilot operation in corporate or cargo settings, as is the King Air.
[edit] 1900
The original design is known simply as the Beechcraft 1900, and features an "airstair" passenger boarding door at the rear of the aircraft as do the smaller King Airs, a second airstair at the front, and a small door for access to the aft baggage compartment. The design was not well-received, and only three airframes were built, with "UA" serial numbers of UA-1, UA-2, and UA-3. UA-1 and UA-2 are stored at a Beechcraft facility in Wichita, Kansas. As of September 2006, UA-3 is in service with Bolivia's Ministry of National Defence in La Paz.
[edit] 1900C
When the original design proved unpopular, Beechcraft eliminated the aft airstair door, retained the one at the front just behind the cockpit, and installed an enlarged aft cargo door. To call attention to the new configuration, Beechcraft added a "C" (for cargo door) to the designation. Other than the redesigned door layout, the early 1900C's were substantially similar to the original 1900's. These were assigned serial numbers starting with the letters "UB." A total of 74 of the UB version were built, many of which remain in service.
Aircraft in the UA and UB series employ a bladder-type fuel tank system in the wings. Later 1900C's (with serial numbers beginning in "UC" use a wet-wing fuel system, with sections of the wing sealed for use as fuel tanks. This design change allowed more fuel to be stored and substantially increased the range of the 1900C. The "UC" serial numbered airplanes are referred to as 1900C1's. This proved popular, and the UC is the most common version of the low-ceiling 1900, with 174 UC airframes built.
Six military 1900C's were manufactured as the C-12J variant of the C-12 Huron, which is the military version of the King Air. The military C-12J's were assigned "UD" serial numbers, UD-1 through UD-6, and as of September 2006, are in service with Air National Guard units in six states: Kansas (UD-1), Iowa (UD-2), Nevada (UD-3), New York (UD-4), Washington (UD-5), and Massachusetts (UD-6).
[edit] 1900D
While the 1900C had become a popular regional airliner, Beechcraft undertook a substantial redesign of the aircraft, and in 1991 introduced a new version called the 1900D.
The 1900 and 1900C, like most 19-passenger airliners and business jets, have fairly small passenger cabins, with ceilings so low that passengers cannot walk through the interior without bending forward. The 1900D was designed to remedy this by providing a "stand-up cabin," which would allow most passengers to walk upright. It is the only 19-seat airliner with this feature. The "D" in the designation refers to the shape of the fuselage cross-section: the flat floor and arched ceiling give the fuselage a shape Beechcraft calls a "square-D."
Because the taller passenger cabin adds both weight and drag to the airplane, other elements of the 1900D were also changed. More powerful engines and modified propellers were installed, winglets were added to reduce drag and increase the wings' efficiency, and the tail was made larger in response to the more powerful engines. The cockpit was updated with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS, sometimes called a "glass cockpit"). The 1900D was certified under the then-new FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards, which had replaced the earlier SFAR 41C. Since the "UD" serial numbers were already in use by the military 1900s, the 1900D airplanes have serial numbers beginning with "UE." The 1900D is the most popular version of the Beechliner, with 440 of the 1900D built.
[edit] Powerplants, propellers, and fuel
The 1900 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines. The 1900 and 1900C use two PT6A-65B engines, each rated at 1,100 shaft horsepower. The 1900D uses two PT6A-67D engines, each rated at 1,279 shaft horsepower.
The propellers are manufactured by Hartzell, with four blades on each propeller. On the 1900 and 1900C, the blades are metal. On the 1900D, the blades are made from composite materials.
The recommended fuel is Jet A. The engines are approved for limited operations on other forms of jet fuel and even on aviation-grade gasoline.
[edit] Performance
The 1900D cruises at about 260 knots true airspeed (300 mph or 480 km/h). Ordinary trip lengths range from 100 to 600 miles (20 minutes to two hours), but with full fuel tanks, the aircraft is capable of flying well in excess of 1,000 nautical miles. Airlines often prefer the 1900 over jet aircraft for shorter routes due to its fuel efficiency, and because trip times are not significantly longer on distances up to 300 miles (480 km).
The airplane is certified to fly up to an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) above mean sea level. This altitude is referred to as the airplane's service ceiling. The cabin is pressurized, and the aircraft is equipped with emergency oxygen masks in the event the cabin loses pressure.
It is designed to operate in most weather conditions, including icing conditions, and it is usually equipped with weather radar to help pilots avoid severe weather.
The aircraft may be equipped with a lavatory, using space otherwise available for passenger seating and cargo storage. Because most flights are less than two hours' duration, most airlines choose the additional seating and cargo space, and forgo the lavatory.
[edit] Airlines and other operators
Airlines in the United States which currently operate the Beechcraft 1900 include CommutAir and Gulfstream International (as Continental Connection), Air Midwest (as US Airways Express and as Mesa Airlines), Colgan Air (also as US Airways Express), Skyway Airlines (as Midwest Connect), Great Lakes Airlines, Big Sky Airlines, and Scenic Airlines. Cargo operators such as Ameriflight and the relief organization Air Serv International also operate the Beechliner.
Airlines in Canada which operate the Beechcraft 1900 include Air Georgian, Air Labrador, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Pronto Airways, and Sunwest Aviation.
Airlines in Europe which operate the Beechcraft 1900 include Denmark's Danish Air Transport, France's Twin Jet, Germany's Avanti Air and Private Wings Flugcharter, Malta's Medavia, Portugal's Portugalia Airlines, Spain's Binter Canarias, and Sweden's Nextjet.
Other airlines operate Beechcraft 1900s in Africa, Latin America and elsewhere around the world, as do many corporate and freight operators.
The last 16 Beechcraft 1900D airliners built were sold to Eagle Airways to provide regional services for Air New Zealand.
In August 2006 a total of 138 Raytheon Beech 1900C aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include: Alpine Air (12) and Ameriflight (20). Some 45 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.<ref name="FI">Flight International, 3-9 October 2006</ref>
In August 2006 a total of 313 Raytheon Beech 1900D aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include: National Airways (12), Eagle Airways (16), Travira Air (15), Air Georgian (19), Avior Express (11), Central Mountain Air (11), Colgan Air (10), Commutair (17), Great Lakes Airlines (23), Gulfstream International Airlines (26), Mesa Airlines (20) and Midwest Connect (10). Some 60 other airlines also operate the type, but in smaller numbers.<ref name="FI"/>
[edit] Military operators
Military and government operators include Egypt, the Republic of China, Thailand, the United Nations, and the United States.
[edit] Specifications (Beechcraft 1900D)
Data from Beechcraft 1900D Airplane Flight Manual
General characteristics<h3>
- Crew: 1 (2 in U.S. airline operations)
- Capacity: 19 passengers + 2 crew
- Length: 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m)
- Wingspan: 58 ft 0 in (17.67 m)
- Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
- Wing area: ft² (m²)
- Empty weight: 10,650 lb (4,831 kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 17,120 lb (7,668 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprops, 1,279 shp, 1,353 eshp (includes exhaust thrust), 3950FT-LBS Touque (955 kW) each
- Fuel Capacity: 4,484 pounds.
- Fuel Type: Jet A recommended, others usable (avgas usable to 15,000ft for 150hrs before engine overhaul required).
<h3>Performance<h3>
- Never exceed speed: see Maximum Operating Speed
- Maximum speed: see Maximum Operating Speed ()
- Cruise speed: 260 knots (True Airspeed) (300 mph, 480 km/h)
- Stall speed: 84 knots (Indicated Airspeed) (97 mph, 156 km/h)
- Range: 1,498 nm (1,724 mi, 2,776 km)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
- Rate of climb: ~2000ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)
- Maximum operating speed: Vmo = 248 knots Indicated Airspeed (285 mph, 459 km/h) to 13,200 ft (4,020 m), Mmo = Mach 0.48 to 25,000' (7,600 m).
<h3>Avionics<h3>
- Rockwell Collins EFIS-84 Electronic Flight Instrument System.</ul>
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] External links
- Raytheon Aircraft's Beechcraft 1900 website
- Raytheon's History of the 1900
- Raytheon Aircraft's Beechcraft 1900 fact sheet (PDF)
- Airliners.net's background of the 1900
- Aviation Safety Network Beechcraft 1900 Data
- Aviation Safety Network 1900 Emergency Exits
- Airsafe's List of Fatal Accidents Involving the Beechcraft 1900
- Federation of American Scientists' Description of the Military C-12
[edit] Related content
Related development<h3>
<h3>Comparable aircraft<h3>- British Aerospace Jetstream 31
- De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Dornier Do 228
- Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
- Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
