Beechcraft Beechcraft 1900 Beechliner

Summary

Description

The Beechcraft 1900 is Beechcraft's third regional airliner, following the Beechcraft Model 18 and Beechcraft Model 99 Airliner. Its design lineage began in 1949 with the Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza. The Model 65 Queen Air and subsequently the Model 90 King Air were developed from this line. A stretched version, the Model 200 Super King Air, was later developed. Beechcraft developed the 1900 directly from the Super King Air, aiming to provide a pressurized commuterliner to compete with the Swearingen Metro and the British Aerospace Jetstream. The 1900 first flew on September 3, 1982, and received FAA certification on November 22, 1983, under SFAR 41C airworthiness standards. Entering service in February 1984, the first ExecLiner corporate version was delivered in 1985. A total of 695 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft were built, making it the best-selling 19-passenger airliner in history. Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in October 2002.

Since the 1900 is derived from the King Air, all 1900s share characteristics with that aircraft, including cockpit controls and operations. Noticeable deviations from the King Air include a longer fuselage and the presence of stabilons, which are small horizontal stabilizers at the rear of the fuselage used for overcoming T-tail blanking at higher angles of attack. Additional fins for yaw stability were installed on the tail for 1900Ds, which feature a taller cabin to allow for a stand-up cabin with more walking headspace. The 1900 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines. The 1900 and 1900C utilize two PT6A-65B engines, each flat-rated at 1,100 shaft horsepower (820 kW). The 1900D employs two PT6A-67D engines, each rated at 1,279 shaft horsepower (954 kW). Propellers are manufactured by Hartzell, with four composite blades per propeller. The 1900D cockpit was updated with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS).

The Beechcraft 1900 has seen service in various roles beyond civilian passenger transport. The U.S. military utilizes the C-12J variant, based on the 1900C, for various support roles, including GPS jamming tests and airlift operations, with units stationed at locations such as Holloman Air Force Base and Yokota Air Base. The U.S. Army operates both C-12J and 1900D aircraft alongside other C-12 aircraft. The aircraft has been adapted for specialized operations, such as the Super Freighter conversion which provides 900 cubic feet (25 cubic meters) of cargo volume and allows a max takeoff weight of 17,120 pounds (7,770 kilograms).

Main Variants:

• 1900: The original design featured two airstair passenger boarding doors, one near the tail and another at the front, with a small cargo door near the tail.

• 1900C: This variant eliminated the aft airstair door, replacing it with an enlarged cargo door, and later versions incorporated a wet wing fuel system for increased range.

• 1900D: A redesigned version introduced in 1991, the 1900D featured a stand-up cabin for improved passenger comfort, along with more powerful engines, modified propellers, winglets, and an updated cockpit with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS).

• Super Freighter: This is a converted 1900D cargo aircraft, with a second emergency exit to the cockpit and the interior converted to cargo configuration.

• C-12J: The U.S. military designation for the Beechcraft 1900C, the C-12J serves various roles including GPS jamming tests and airlift operations.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Algeria	12
	Egypt	8
	Myanmar	7
	United States	6
	Ivory Coast	1
	Peru	1
	Zambia	1

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Bolivia • Ivory Coast • Algeria • Egypt • Eritrea • Myanmar • Peru • South Sudan • Chad • Thailand • United States • Zambia

Photo of Beechcraft 1900 Beechliner