Beechcraft 1900

Beechcraft 1900

The Beechcraft 1900 is a small two-engined regional turboprop airliner with a pressurised passenger cabin and seating up to 19 passengers. It was a further development of the Beech Model 200 'Super King Air' corporate aircraft and became popular among cummuter airlines.

Beechcraft (today a division of Textron Aviation, formerly Raytheon Company) developed the Beechcraft 1900 from the Super King Air in order to provide a pressurized commuterliner to compete with other 19-seaters like the Swearingen Metro and the British Aerospace Jetstream 31. The 1900's maiden flight took place on 3 September 1982, followed by FAA-certification on 22 November 1983. The 1900 entered into service in February 1984.

Passengers sit two-abreast (1+1). For commuter passenger aircraft, the regulations require two pilots in the cockpit. However, the 1900 can also be flown by one pilot for cargo and corporate flights. The 1900 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines. The 1900 and 1900C have the PT6A-65B installed and the 1900D is fitted with the more powerful PT6A-67D. The four-bladed propellers, manufactured by Hartzell, are made from composite materials.

The original version, designated '1900' had two passenger boarding doors with airstair: one near the tail and one just behind the cockpit. Near the tail is also a small cargo door, which gives access to the baggage compartment. Of the 1900 only three were built.

Model 1900 was followed by the 1900C which kept only one door with airstair, the one behind the cockpit. The aft door and the small cargo door were replaced by a larger cargo door. Furthermore, early 1900Cs were very similar to the original 1900. Later aircraft, designated '1900C-01', had the bladder-type fuel tank in the wings of the early versions replaced by sealed tanks within the wing to increase fuel capacity and range. A corporate version was named 'King Air ExecLiner'. Beechcraft also delivered six aircraft to the US military services as C-12J.

In 1991 Beechcraft introduced the 1900D, with a higher fuselage and and a 'stand-up' cabin ceiling to allow passengers more headroom and to make walking easier. This became the most popular version. Beechcraft installed more powerful engines to overcome the extra weight and drag of the higher fuselage, modified the propellers and added winglets. The 1900D also has an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS). The 1900D first flew on 1 March 1990 and deliveries started in November 1991.

With a total of 695 1900s built, the 1900 is among the best-selling 19-passenger airliners in history. Raytheon ended production of the aircraft in October 2002. In 2018 around 300 Beechcraft 1900s are still in airline service as a passenger aircraft or freighter: 100 1900Cs and 200 1900Ds.

Beechcraft 1900C Specifications

Wingspan: 17.64 m (57 ft 9 in). Length: 17.62 m (57 ft 8 in). Height: 4.72 m (15 ft 5 in).
Empty weight: 4,327 kg (9,540 lb). Max. take-off weight: 7,530 kg (16,600 lb).

Accommodation: 19 passengers. Range: 1,070 km (578 nm). Cruise speed: 495 km/h (267 kts).
Engines: two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B turboprops (1,100 shp - 820 kW).

Beechcraft 1900D Specifications

Wingspan: 17.64 m (57 ft 9 in). Length: 17.62 m (57 ft 8 in). Height: 4.72 m (15 ft 5 in).
Empty weight: 4,732 kg (10,434 lb). Max. take-off weight: 7.764 kg (17,120 lb).

Accommodation: 19 passengers. Range: 707 km (388 nm). Cruise speed: 533 km/h (288 kts).
Engines: two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprops (1,279 shp - 955 kW).