Beechcraft M18R

thethrill820 · February 6, 2024, 1:56am

[Would you like to see this in-game?]

Yes
No

0 voters

Beechcraft M18R

ROCAF

Background

Spoiler

In the late 1930s, the management of Beechcraft predicted that there would be a demand for a new aircraft design called the Model 18, which would have a military application. As a result, they expanded their main production facilities. The design of the Model 18 was mostly traditional for that era, featuring twin radial engines, an all-metal semi-monocoque structure, fabric-covered control surfaces, and a “tail-dragger” undercarriage. However, the twin tail fins were less commonly seen.

Beech initiated discussions with the Chinese government regarding a bomber trainer in 1939. This variant featured a transparent plastic nose, an upper fuselage equipped with a solitary gun turret, and a machine gun positioned in a tunnel on the rear floor. Additionally, it was equipped with internal bomb racks. The production received an initial boost when Nationalist China purchased six M18R light bombers from the company for a sum of US$750,000. At least one of the latter was flown by the American Volunteer Group, the “Flying Tigers.” The main role the the M18R in ROCAF service was to perform light bombing missions, as well as training duties.

Not much is known about the service record of the aircraft in ROCAF hands (Atleast i cant find it), however, atleast one of the aircraft survived the war.

Presumably the last surviving airframe was used after the war as a training aircraft until the ROCAF bought AT-11’s from USN stock in 1950.