Airtest-Beech 18

Southern Comfort – The Twin Beech

Taxying the Twin Beech is a little like walking on ice in leather soled shoes.

This big heavy aeroplane, with its freely castoring tailwheel, completely lacks direct steering. That is not to say there is no means of controlling the beast, it is just that the cautious navigation of this substantial traildragger can only be achieved through differential braking. With the momentum of almost four tonnes wagging the tail this takes a little concentration- and the USAF Flight Handbook warns “The brakes should be used as little as possible for turning the aircraft on the ground’. On the other hand, in the air she is a real lady, with all the controllability one would expect of a pre-war machine (provided you are prepared to flex your muscles), great visibility, plenty of stability in all axes and more character than you can imagine.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details