BEECHCRAFT C-45 EXPEDITOR
C-45 SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, Kansas, USA |
| Model: | Model 18 |
| Designations: | C-45; AT-7, AT-11, CQ-3, F-2, JRB, SNB, T-7, T-11, CT-128 (CAF) |
| Names: | Expeditor; Kansan (AT-11), Navigator (AT-7) |
| First official flight: | (Model 18) 15/01/1937 (C-45) 1940 |
| Factory production period: | 1936 - 1969 |
| Primary service period: | 1937 - 1960's |
| Last official flight: | (C-45J) 1976 |
C-45 VARIANTS
| 1937 | Model 18A / S18A | Model 18A / S18A | 4 | |
| 1938 | Model 18B / S18B | Model 18B / S18B | 4 | |
| 1938 | Model 18D / S18D | Model 18D / S18D | 12 | |
| 1940 | Model 18R | Model 18R | 1 | |
| 1940 | Model M18R | Model M18R | 6 | |
| 1939 | Model 18S | Model 18S | 7 | |
| 1939 | Model B18S | Model B18S | 5 | Total: 0039 |
| 1940 | Model C18S | C-45 | 11 | |
| 1940 | Model C18S | C-45A | 20 | |
| 1942 | Model C18S | C-45B | 223 | |
| 1942 | Model C18S | UC-45D | 2 | |
| 1943 | Model C18S | UC-45E | 6 | |
| 1943 | Model C18S | UC-45F | 1522 | Total: 1784 |
| 1941 | Model C18S | AT-7 | 577 | |
| 1941 | Model C18S | AT-7A | 7 | |
| 1942 | Model C18S | AT-7B | 9 | |
| 1943 | Model C18S | AT-7C | 549 | |
| 1941 | Model C18S | AT-11 | 1584 | Total: 2726 |
| 1939 | Model B18S | F-2 | 14 | Total: 0014 |
| 1940 | Model C18S | JRB-1 | 11 | |
| 1941 | Model C18S | JRB-2 | 15 | |
| 1942 | Model B18S | SNB-1 | 320 | |
| 1942 | Model C18S | SNB-2 | 499 | |
| 1943 | Model C18S | SNB-2C | 375 | Total: 1220 |
| 1946 | Model D18S | Model D18S | 1035 | |
| 1946 | Model D18C-T | Model D18C-T | 16 | |
| 1947 | Model D18C | Model D18C | 13 | |
| 1954 | Model E18S | Model E18S | 403 | |
| 1954 | Model E18S-9700 | Model E18S-9700 | 57 | |
| 1959 | Model G18S | Model G18S | 156 | |
| 1962 | Model H18 | Model H18 | 149 | Total: 1829 |
|
Grand Total: 7612 |
C-45 PRODUCTION
Civil Aircraft (pre WW2)
Model 18
Twin-engined commuter aircraft. Various
engine / interior upgrades. Model 18R
versions were for military customers.
1 Model 18D to RCAF with s/n: 1530.
Produced 1936 - 1940
Beech Wichita, Kansas
| Model 18A / S18A | mixed 62 to 318 | 4 | |
| Model 18B / S18B | mixed 170 to 174 | 4 | |
| Model 18D / S18D | mixed 169 to 268 | 12 | |
| Model 18R | 321 | 1 | |
| Model M18R | 375 / 380 | 6 | |
| Model 18S | mixed 222 to 316 | 7 | |
| Model B18S | 430 / 434 | 5 | Total: 0039 |
Military Aircraft
C-45
As Model 18, staff transport for USAAF.
Redesignated as UC-45 in 1943.
Produced 1940
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 40-180 / 40-190 | 364 / 374 | 11 | Total: 0011 |
C-45A
As C-45, engine upgrade, extra seats.
Redesignated as UC-45A in 1943.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 41-1861 / 41-1880 | ? | 20 | Total: 0020 |
C-45B
As C-45A, revised interior.
Redesignated as UC-45B in 1943.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 42-56852 | ? | ||
| 43-35446 / 43-35667 | ? | 223 | Total: 0223 |
UC-45D
As C-45A, communications aircraft,
airframes completed from an AT-7 contract.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 42-56785, 43-33281 | ? | 2 | Total: 0002 |
UC-45E
As C-45A, communications aircraft,
airframes completed from an AT-7B contract.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 42-43484, 42-43486 | ? | ||
| 43-33282 / 43-33285 | ? | 6 | Total: 0006 |
UC-45F
As C-45A, longer nose, revised interior.
Original designation was C-45F.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 43-35668 / 43-35945 | ? | ||
| 44-47049 / 44-47748 | ? | ||
| 44-86898 / 44-87441 | ? | 1522 | Total: 1522 |
AT-7 Navigator
As C-45, navigation trainer, engine upgrade.
Redesignated as T-7 in 1948.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 41-1143 / 41-1209 | ? | ||
| 41-21042 / 41-21155 | ? | ||
| 42-2415 / 42-2513 | ? | ||
| 42-43461 / 42-43477 | ? | ||
| 42-43488 / 42-43510 | ? | ||
| 42-56703 / 42-56784 | ? | ||
| 42-56786 / 42-56851 | ? | ||
| 43-33265 / 43-33280 | ? | ||
| 43-33286 / 43-33378 | ? | 577 | Total: 0577 |
AT-7A Navigator
As AT-7, floatplane version, ventral
fin added, engine upgrade.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 41-21156 / 41-21161 | ? | ||
| 42-53522 | ? | 7 | Total: 0007 |
AT-7B Navigator
As AT-7, winterised version.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 42-2414 | ? | ||
| 42-43478 / 42-43483 | ? | ||
| 42-43485, 42-43487 | ? | 9 | Total: 0009 |
AT-7C Navigator
As AT-7, engine upgrade.
Redesignated as T-7C in 1948.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 43-33379 / 43-33664 | ? | ||
| 43-49963 / 43-50223 | ? | ||
| 43-52226, 43-52227 | ? | 549 | Total: 0549 |
AT-11 Kansan
As AT-7, bomber / gunnery trainer version,
glass nose for bombaimer, dorsal turret.
Redesignated as T-11 in 1948.
Produced 1941 - 1944
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 41-9437 / 41-9586 | ? | ||
| 41-27332 / 41-27681 | ? | ||
| 42-36826 / 42-37713 | ? | ||
| 43-10318 / 43-10489 | ? | ||
|
(NEIAF) A-1 / A-24 - 22 later assigned non-standard s/n: 42-3057 / 42-3066, 42-3069 / 42-3080. Repossessed by USAAF in 1944 with s/n: 44-72005 / 44-72026. |
3057 / 3080 | 1584 | Total: 1584 |

Turkey operated a number of ex-AT-11's in the
post World War II years.
Pictured here is AT-11-BH (s/n: 42-37565, c/n: 4561), which had
Turkish s/n: 6930 with code: 9-930.
Turkish Air Force Museum, Istanbul, Turkey, 2005.
F-2
As C-45A, photo survey version,
two cameras, engine upgrade.
Original s/n: 39-142 / 39-155.
Produced 1939 - 1940
Beech Wichita, Kansas (BH)
| 40-682 / 40-695 | 340 / 353 | 14 | Total: 0014 |
JRB-1
As C-45A, photo survey version for US Navy
and USMC, extra fairing above cockpit, engine
upgrade. 1 civil Model 18S also impressed
with BuNo. 09771.
Produced 1940
Beech Wichita, Kansas (B)
| BuNo.2543 / 2547 | 425 / 429 | ||
| BuNo.4709, 4710 | ? | ||
| BuNo.4726 / 4729 | ? | 11 | Total: 0011 |
JRB-2
As JRB-1, light transport version.
5 also converted from C-45A with
BuNo. 76740 / 76742, 90522, 90523.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (B)
| BuNo.4711 / 4725 | ? | 15 | Total: 0015 |
SNB-1 Kansan
As AT-11, version for US Navy
and USMC, engine upgrade.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Beech Wichita, Kansas (B)
| BuNo.39749 / 39998 | ? | ||
| BuNo.51025 / 51094 | ? | 320 | Total: 0320 |
SNB-2 Navigator
As AT-7, version for US Navy.
Produced 1942 - 1944
Beech Wichita, Kansas (B)
| BuNo.03553 / 03562 | ? | ||
| BuNo.12354 / 12389 | ? | ||
| BuNo.39192 / 39291 | ? | ||
| BuNo.51200 / 51293 | ? | ||
| BuNo.67100 / 67129 | ? | ||
| BuNo.67155 / 67383 | ? | 499 | Total: 0499 |
| 205 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
SNB-2C Navigator
As AT-7C, version for US Navy.
Produced
Beech Wichita, Kansas (B)
| BuNo.23757 / 23856 | ? | ||
| BuNo.29551 / 29664 | ? | ||
| BuNo.51095 / 51199 | ? | ||
| BuNo.51294 / 51349 | ? | 375 | Total: 0375 |
| 4 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
Civil Aircraft (post WW2)
Model 18
Developed civil version for commercial market.
Various design / engine upgrades.
The D18C named Feeder Twin.
The E18S onwards named Super 18.
The H18 had tricycle u/c.
Produced 1946 - 1969
Beech Wichita, Kansas
| Model D18S | A-1 / A-1035 | 1035 | |
| Model D18C-T | AA-1 / AA-16 | 16 | |
| Model D18C | AA-17 / AA-29 | 13 | |
| Model E18S | mixed BA-1 to BA-497 | 403 | |
| Model E18S-9700 | mixed BA-403 to BA-460 | 57 | |
| Model G18S | mixed BA-434 to BA-617 | 156 | |
| Model H18 | mixed BA-580 to BA-765 | 149 | Total: 1829 |
|
Grand Total: 7612 |
C-45 CONVERSIONS
Military Conversions
USAAF / USAF
| UC-45C | 2 | Model 18S, 1942, two impressed civil aircraft. Assigned s/n: 42-22247, 42-53510. |
| RC-45F | 1+ | UC-45F, photo survey conversions. |
| C-45G | 372 | RC-45A / UC-45F / T-7 / T-11, 1951, rebuilt airframes with fuselage / engine / avionics upgrades. New s/n: New c/n: 51-11444 / 51-11503 AF-1 / AF-60 51-11600 / 51-11911 AF-157 / AF-468 |
| TC-45G | 96 | RC-45A / UC-45F / T-7 / T-11, 1952, rebuilt airframes with fuselage / engine / avionics upgrades. New s/n: New c/n: 51-11504 / 51-11599 AF-61 / AF-156 |
| C-45H | 432 | UC-45F / T-7 / T-11, 1952, rebuilt airframes with fuselage / engine / avionics upgrades. New s/n: New c/n: 52-10539 / 52-10970 AF-469 / AF-900 |
| (RC-45H) | 1+ | C-45H, photo survey conversions. |
| (TC-45H) | 1+ | C-45H, navigation trainer conversions. |
| (C-45T) | 1+ | C-45G / C-45H, unofficial designation for tricycle landing gear conversions. |
| CQ-3 | 1+ | UC-45F, 1944, target drone directors. |
| (DC-45F) | 1+ | 1948, redesignation of CQ-3. |
| AT-11A | 36 | AT-11, navigational trainer conversions, engine upgrade. |
| (T-11A) | 36 | 1948, redesignation of AT-11A. |
| F-2A | 13 | UC-45A / UC-45B, photo survey conversions, 4 cameras. |
| F-2B | 42 | UC-45F, photo survey conversions, camera upgrade. |
| (RC-45A) | 55 | 1948, redesignation of 13 F-2A / 42 F-2B. |
| T-11B | 1+ | AT-11, 1951, rebuilt conversions similar to C-45G. |
US Navy
| JRB-3 | 20 | UC-45B, 1942, transfers from USAAF. Assigned BuNo. 76743 / 76759, 84032, 86294, 87752. |
| JRB-4 | 329 | UC-45F, 1942, transfers from USAAF. Some later to USCG. Assigned BuNo. 44315, 44555 / 44684, 48246 / 48251, 66395 / 66471, 76760 / 76779, 85096 / 85135, 86293, 86295, 86296, 87753, 90532 / 90581, 134004. 143 additional conversions cancelled. |
| JRB-5 | - | Proposed SNB-5 transport version rebuilds, cancelled. |
| JRB-6 | 29 | JRB-3 / JRB-4, 1951, rebuilt airframes with fuselage / engine / avionics upgrades. Assigned BuNo. 89466 / 89494. |
| SNB-2H | 1+ | SNB-2, 1943, medical conversions. |
| SNB-2P | 1+ | SNB-2, 1943, photo reconn. conversions. |
| (SNB-5P) | 1+ | SNB-2P, 1951, rebuilt conversions similar to SNB-5. |
| (RC-45J) | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of SNB-5P. |
| SNB-3Q | 1+ | SNB-2, 1946, conversions as radar counter-measure trainers. |
| SNB-4 | 117 | SNB-1, 1947, factory rebuilds, post-WW2. |
| SNB-5 | 32 | SNB-2, 1951, rebuilt airframes with fuselage / engine / avionics upgrades. Assigned BuNo. 134692 / 134717, 140987 / 140992. First 26 sold under MAP to The Netherlands and France. 1 additional airframe sold under MAP as BuNo. 147548. |
| (TC-45J) | 32 | 1962, redesignation of SNB-5. |
| (NC-45J) | 2 | TC-45J, permanent conversions as test-beds for US Army. |
| (UC-45J) | 30 | TC-45J, redesignation as utility transports. |
| (C-45J) | 2 | UC-45J, transfers to the US Army. |
| (VC-45J) | 1 | UC-45J, staff transport conversion. |
British RAF / RCAF
| Expeditor Mk. I | 121 | C-45B, aircraft in service with the RAF and RN. Assigned RAF s/n: FR940 / FR948, FT975 / FT979, HB100 / HB206. 15 to RCAF as Expeditor Mk. III without s/n change. 1 (HB759), additional conversion cancelled. |
| Expeditor Mk. II | 303 | UC-45F, aircraft in service with the RAF and RN. Assigned RAF s/n: FT980 / FT996, HB207 / HB299, HD752 / HD776, KJ468 / KJ560, KN100 / KN149, KP100 / KP124. 9 to RCAF as Expeditor Mk. III without s/n change. 50 additional conversions cancelled. |
| Expeditor Mk. 3T | 45 | 6 UC-45B / 39 UC-45F, 1944, trainers in service with the RCAF. Assigned RCAF s/n: 1381 / 1425. |
| Expeditor Mk. 3N | 100 | Civil Model D18S, 1951,
factory-built RCAF navigational trainers. Re-assigned new c/n from original civil ones. RCAF s/n: New c/n: 1426 / 1500 CA-1 / CA-75 - S/n: 1500 not delivered. 2278 / 2302 CA-76 / CA-100 |
| Expeditor Mk. 3NM | 133 | Civil Model D18S, 1952,
factory-built RCAF navigational trainers and transports. Re-assigned new c/n from original civil ones. RCAF s/n: New c/n: 1502 / 1515 CA-102 / CA-115 1536 / 1555 CA-136 / CA-155 1576 / 1594 CA-262 / CA-280 2303 / 2321 CA-176 / CA-194 2322 / 2382 CA-201 / CA-280 |
| Expeditor Mk. 3TM | 48 | Civil Model D18S, 1952,
factory-built RCAF crew trainers and transports. Re-assigned new c/n from original civil ones. RCAF s/n: New c/n: 1501 CA-101 1516 / 1535 CA-116 / CA-135 1556 / 1575 CA-156 / CA-175 1595 / 1600 CA-195 / CA-200 Not delivered. CA-281 |
| Navigator Mk. I | 5 | AT-7, aircraft in service with the RN. Assigned RAF s/n: FR879 / FR883. |
| CT-128 | 159 | RCAF Expeditor, 1968-1972,
redesignation for newly formed Canadian Armed Forces. Most in storage, allocated new CAF 6-digit s/n's but not taken up. |
Civil Conversions
| Model C18S |
1 |
UC-45B, 1944, prototype for post-WW2 civil development. First proposed in 1940 from the Model B18S. |
Airlines Training Inc. conversions:
Conrad 9800D - 6+, higher
weights.
Conrad 10200 - 7+, higher weights, tricycyle
u/c.
American Turbine Aircraft Corp. conversion:
American Turbine 600R - turboprop, tricycyle
u/c.
Dumod Corp., Florida conversions:
Infinite / Dumod I - 37, 1960, tricycle
u/c.
Infinite II / Dumod Liner - 10+,
1964, stretched version.
Hamilton Aviation Co. Inc., Arizona conversions:
Hamilton Little Liner - 400+, 1959.
Hamilton Westwind - 22+, turboprop.
Hamilton Westwind III - 42, 1970,
turboprop.
Hamilton Westwind IISTD - 1, 1975,
turboprop.
Hamilton Westwind IV - 1+, 1977,
turboprop.
Pacific Airmotive Corp., California conversions:
PAC Tradewind - 22+, 1962, single tail, tricycle
u/c.
PAC Turbo Tradewind - 11+, 1964,
turboprop.
Rausch Engineering Inc., California conversion:
Rausch Star 250 - 1, 1960, tricycle u/c.
Volpar Inc., California conversions:
Volpar 18 - 1+, 1960, tricycle u/c.
Volpar Turbo 18 - 25, 1965, turboprop.
Volpar Turboliner I - 23, 1967,
turboprop.
- Additional conversions by Avco, Howard Aero Inc.,
TX.,
Remmert-Werner and SFERMA (France).
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- The Beechcraft 18 had widespread military service with the armed forces
of many countries worldwide both during and post World War II.
- A high number of Beechcraft 18 aircraft saw civil service as small commuter
airliners, executive transports, civil utility transports and
Warbirds.