AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2014 - 52

WITH BIG, OBLONG

windows, the Twin Beech
comfortably seats six, but
can handle more-some models
spec nine, depending on
configuration. On floats,
you'll want room for waders,
ropes, paddles, and other
gear for on-water use. A
simple and rugged trim
wheel is mounted between
the pilot seats (above right).

eadying this 70-year-old girl for a three-day trip from
Minnesota to Florida seems more akin to launching a cruise
ship. The Twin Beech is one of five seaplanes migrating from
the Minneapolis area to Central Florida for the winter-where they
will continue working, teaching pilots to fly on floats and hosting
flightseers.
The work pays off, though, when-like an old dog shaking off the
cold, the 450-horsepower engines shudder to life. Lines are tossed
from the dock into the open cabin door while a slow taxi allows the
oil temperature to eventually reach the required 40 degrees Celsius
on this crisp fall morning.
"Do this by yourself and it takes an hour or more," says Mark
Baker as he guides the rumbling airplane to a clear path on the lake.
Although the AOPA president has owned N44573 only since last
summer, he's been around seaplanes and round engines most of his
adult life. To him, the Beech 18 is the epitome of floatplane flying-a
beautiful old radial-engine airplane on straight floats, challenging
to operate and a delight to fly; just being a part of the magical history of such a beast is more than enough reward for enthusiasts.
Mashing those two throttles forward creates an overwhelming din that not even top-of-the line active noise-canceling headset
can repel. The cacophony reverberates through your very being.
52 | AOPA PILOT April 2014

Being part of the magical
history of such a beast is
more than enough reward
for enthusiasts.

Haul back on the yoke
and the big girl claws
her way up; relax the
pressure to get on the
step, spray going everywhere; then away you go, lumbering upward at a stately pace. The
lake falls away and you suddenly realize you're flying a Beech.
The comforting control harmony you've come to expect is there-
heavier than in a Baron, but you know the feeling. Level off at a
couple of thousand feet, close the cowl flaps, tune up the propellers, set the mixture, adjust the carb heat as needed, and finesse the
oil shutters (if you like dinking with levers in the cockpit, you'll love
the Beech 18). With the draggy floats hanging out, the 18 doesn't so
much fly as it sashays though the air. It's like riding in an old Buick.
Yank the power off and look straight down for your landing spot.
You'll need to add power just to maintain blue line (best singleengine rate of climb speed) during steep turns.
With 223 gallons of fuel on board (fore and aft tanks in each
wing and a common nose tank), you'd think you could cruise a long
distance-but did I mention all that drag? On straight floats you
don't pass up many fueling opportunities, because finding suitable
water with docks and fuel available is a challenge in many parts of

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2014

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