Phone: 303.360.5360 Online Exhibit of Aircraft
1943 UC-45 Expeditor
Transport
Manufactured by Beech
Beech Aircraft Co. sold its first Model 18, or Twin Beech, in June of 1937.
The US Army Air Corps first became interested in 1939 after foreign orders were
placed for pilot training and light bomber versions. The first US Army orders
were placed with Beech in 1940, for a light transport aircraft to be known as
the C-45. Even before the US entry into WWII, the design was recognized as extremely
versatile and orders for training models increased dramatically.
During the war years, over 5,400 aircraft were delivered to the US Army
and Navy. These included the AT-11 bombardier/gunner trainer, the AT-7 navigator
trainer, the F-2 photo-recon aircraft, and the C-45.
Starting in 1949, almost half of the military versions were re-manufactured by
Beech, with the last C-45s serving until 1964. After a 32 year production run,
the last Twin Beech was delivered in November of 1969.
Our UC-45 Expeditor
AT-11 42-37496 was delivered to the Army Air Forces in September 1943. Like many
trainer versions, it was rebuilt after the war to standard Twin Beech configuration.
For this reason, the aircraft is displayed as a C-45.
Specifications
- Role/Category: Transport
- Wingspan: 47 feet, 8 inches
- Length: Fuselage - 34 feet, 3 inches
- Height: 9 feet, 4 inches
- Weight: 5,870 lbs. empty, 8,800 lbs. maximum
- Powerplant: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-3 9-cylinder Wasp Jr. radial engines, 450 hp each
- Speed: maximum: 260 mph, normal cruise: 170 mph
- Ceiling: 20,000 feet
- Crew: pilot or pilot and co-pilot, 3-6 passengers
- Armament: None
- Payload: 3,000 lbs
More Photos:
(click for a larger version)
