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FREEDOM FLIGHT AMERICA 1995 |
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Click Photo
C-45 "Beech Baby" |
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The
Mission
The Freedom
Flight of America is a
one-time
mission and part of the
final festivities of the 5Oth,
anniversary remembrance period of the war years.
The Freedom Flight of America is a
coast-to-coast
flight commencing on July 28, 1995 at Long
Beach,
California, and ending on August 12 with a
fly-by of
the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It is a
special tribute towards our veterans and active
service personnel of this great country. This
special tribute to
them is an acknowledgment of our
appreciation to
all who have served so that the rest
of us may live
free. |
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Sponsors of Beech
Baby Participating in Freedom Flight America |
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Mr. Kirk
Ellis, Kelley Instruments, Inc. 4131 W. May;
Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 945-7171
Leading aviation repair facility of aircraft
instruments |
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Mr. Greg
Hiser, Rollins Hudig Hall, Inc. 1995 Midfield
Rd.; Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 943-9331
Providing a full line of insurance coverage
for general and corporate aviation |
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Mr. John
Savute, Savute's Italian Ristorante 3303 N.
Broadway; Wichita, KS 67219 (316) 838-0455
Internationally known Italian restaurant and
world famous "Stick & Rudder" club |
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Mr. Earl
Long, Westport Airport 2558 S. Kessler;
Wichita, KS 67217 (316) 943-5510
Outstanding general aviation maintenance
facility and leading restoration facility for
C-45s and AT-11s |
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"Beech Baby"
1943 BEECHCRAFT AT-11
S/N 43-10374
Remanufactured 1953 as C-45H S/N 52-10613 |
Original USAAF Designation:
Engines:
Horsepower:
Gross Weight:
Useful Load:
Fuel Capacity:
Range at max. power:
Economy cruise:
Speeds:
Maximum Speed:
Maneuvering:
Approach Speed:
Landing Distance: |
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AT-11
"Kansan"
Pratt &: Whitney R-985 Wasp .
450 HP
9,800 Ibs.
3,000 Ibs.
252 U.S. Ga1lons \
5 hrs. at 200 knots, 50 &ph
7 hrs. at 145 knots, 36 &ph
220 Knots / 250 MPH
143 Knots / 165 MPH
90 Knots / 105 MPH
2,000 ft. at gross weight |
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The
1943 BEECHCRAFT AT-11 "KANSAS" |
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The
AT-11 is an example of
private industry doing it's
part to support the defense
efforts of the United States. Early during
World Warn, the U. S. Army Air
Force was
in need of a readily available and
easily maintained multi-engine
aircraft to train all
of the members of bomber crews. The
"Twin Beech" served that
function perfectly.
Beech Aircraft Company designed an airframe
that could be produced with an impressive
number of different variations to serve
different missions. For instance,
this particular aircraft was originally manufactured
with a glass nose, bomb bay doors
and a
gunners turret as an AT-11 for use in advanced
pilot training as when as
bombardier
and gunner training. Later this aircraft was
remanufactured to the C-45
configuration for further duty as an advanced
pilot trainer as when as personnel and
supply transportation roles. It is in this later C-45H configuration that
the aircraft is presented. |
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AT-11 S/N 43-10374 |
This
aircraft was not only built in Wichita but has
also served at Wichita Municipal Airport which
is
now McConnell Air Base. Have
you served or lived
where "Beech Baby" has
served? |
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Manufactured ID 1943 at Beech Aircraft.
WIchIta. Accepted by USAAF 1 March 1944 |
Oct.
1944 -Midland Army Air Field, Texas
2528th Base Unit Air Training Command
Mar. 1945 -Perrln Field, Texas
2537th Base Unit Air Training Command
June 1946 -Stewart Army Air Field.
Georgia
2002nd Base Unit Air Training Command
Sept. 1946 -Cleveland Municipal
Airport, Ohio
4163rd Base Unit Air Defense Command
July 1947 -Godman Field,
Kentucky
315th Base Unit Air Defense Command
Oct. 1947 -Cleveland Municipal
Airport, Ohio
4163rd Base Unit Air Defense Command
Dec. 1948 -Cleveland Municipal
Airport, Ohio
224Oth Air Force Reserve Training Center
Aug. 1949 -Cleveland Municipal
Airport, Ohio
2757th Air Base Squadron (AMC)
Dec. 1949 -Cleveland Municipal
Airport, Ohio
224Oth Air Force Reserve Tranning. Center
Oct. 1950 -Grenville AFB, South
Carolina
433rd Troop Carrier Wing Medium (TAC)
July. 1951 -Grenville
AFB, South
Carolina
375th Troop Carrier Wing Medium (TAC)
Dec. 1951 -McCord AFB, Washington
62nd Troop Carrier Wing Heavy (TAC)
Apr. 1952 -Larson MB, Washington
62nd Troop Carrier Wing Heavy (TAC)
Dec. 1952 -McConnell AFB,
Kansas.....................................
dropped from the USAF Inventory for
reclamation.
1953 BEECHCRAFT C-45H A/N 52-10613
Jan. -Oct. 1953 -Remanufactured by Beech
Aircraft and delivered to USAF as C-45H.
Oct. 1953 -Hamilton AFB,
California
Western Air Defense Force Air Defense
Command
Mar. 1955 -Norton AFB, California
27th Air Defense Air Defense Command
Sept. 1956 -Paine AFB, Washington
326th Fighter Group Air Defense Command
July. 1957 -Paine AFB, Washington
326th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Sqdn
(ADC)
Jun. 1958 -Oxnard AFB,
California
414th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Sqdn
(ADC)
Dec. 1958 -Transferred to Davis-Monthan
AFB. Arizona, aircraft declared as excess.
Jan. 1959 -Aircraft dropped
from USAF Inventory.
After its USAF service this aircraft
continued to serve the government as a
member of the U.S. Forest
Service air fleet and then as a member of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture air
fleet.
" Beech Baby" has had a long history In
service to the government and it is our
pleasure to share this
aircraft and its history with you.
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Variations of the "Twin Beech" mfg. by
Beech Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas,
for World War II service:
AT-7
Navigator trainer
AT-1O
Pilot trainer
AT-ll and Navy SNB-1
"Kansan" Bombardier and Gunner Trainer
C-45 "Expeditor"
Pilot trainer, Personnel /supply transport
F-2
Photo / recon. aircraft
YC-43 and Navy GB-1
Executive personnel tranport (or
"Admiral's Barge")
Navy JRB-1
Observation / recon. aircraft
Following the war, Beech Aircraft Company
continued production of this design
aircraft In a civilian
version, the Beech D-1S which proved to be
a very popular corporate aircraft. |
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