Beechcraft C-12 Huron
The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer, Guardrail and Project Liberty programs.
Design and development
The first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and was used as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines.[1]
The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC-12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft.[1]
C-12J
To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six C-12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for GPS jamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.[2] Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.[3] Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea.[4] They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation.[5]
Although the UD- series 1900s were manufactured exclusively for military use, the United States military and other military and government organizations use 1900s from other series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere.[5]
Variants
King Air 200-based variants
- C-12A
- Used by the US Army for liaison and attache transport. Based on the King Air A200 (serial numbers BC-1 through BC-61, BD-1 and up).
- UC-12B
- US Navy/US Marine Corps version with an additional cargo door. Based on the King Air A200C (serial numbers BJ-1 and up).
- NC-12B
- US Navy single-aircraft version, UC-12B BuNo 161311 equipped with four P-3C type Sonobuoy launchers.
- TC-12B
- US Navy training version developed by conversion of UC-12B airframes.
- C-12C
- US Army and US Air Force version of the C-12A with upgraded engines. Based on the King Air A200 (serial numbers BC-62 and up).
- C-12D
- US Army and US Air Force version. Based on the King Air A200CT, changes include larger cargo door, "high-flotation" landing gear (a Beechcraft option for larger main landing gear wheels for use on unimproved runways) (serial numbers BP-1, BP-22, BP-24 through BP-51).
- RC-12D
- Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
- UC-12D
- Based on the King Air A200CT (serial numbers BP-7 though BP-11).
- C-12E
- Upgraded C-12A aircraft for the USAF. 29 C-12As were retro-fitted with two Pratt & Whitney canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines.
- C-12F
- US Air Force transport version. Based on the King Air A200CF (serial numbers BP-52 through BP-63) and the King Air B200C (serial numbers BP-64 and up).
- RC-12F
- US Navy version of the UC-12F modified with surface search radar.
- UC-12F
- US Navy version based on the King Air B200C (serial number BU-1 and up, BV-1 and up, BW-1 and up).
- RC-12G
- US Army version used for real-time tactical intelligence support under the Crazyhorse program.[6] Based on the King Air A200CT (three aircraft, serial numbers FC-1 and up). Previously operated by US Army Reserve aviation units.
- RC-12H
- Special mission, battlefield SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
- C-12L
- Three A200s acquired for use in the Cefly Lancer program as RU-21Js. In 1984 the three aircraft modified with new VIP interiors, and returned to the US Army as C-12Ls.[7]
- UC-12M
- US Navy UC-12B and UC-12F aircraft with upgraded cockpit instrumentation.
- RC-12M
- US Navy RC-12F with upgraded cockpit instrumentation, plus other systems and structural upgrades.
- C-12R
- Off the shelf BE200 modified with EFIS glass cockpit instrumentation.
- C-12T
- Upgrade of earlier US Army C-12F versions with improved cockpit instrumentation.
- C-12U
- Upgrade of US Army C-12T versions with improved cockpit instrumentation in order to meet global air traffic management directives.
- RU-21J
- Special mission, battlefield ELINT aircraft. Three A200s were brought by the US Army for use in the Cefly Lancer program in the early 1970s.
- RC-12X
- Intelligence-gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the US Army in January 2011.[8]
- C-12V
- Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS, currently used exclusively in Iraq and Afghanistan
King Air 350-based variants
- C-12S
- US Army version based on the King Air 350, with seating for 8 to 15 passengers and quick cargo conversion capability.
- MC-12W Liberty
- USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) role; 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs on order. In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan.[9][10] The USAF intends to integrate Gorgon stare video capturing technology into the aircraft.[11]
- UC-12W
- US Navy version based on the King Air 350[12]
Beechcraft 1900-based variant
- C-12J
- Used by the US Air Force's Pacific Air Forces, and Air Force Material Command. It carries 2 crew and 19 passengers. The C-12J is based on the Beechcraft 1900C and carries the serials UD-1 through UD-6.
The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan and 1 by the Air Force Material Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The Army has 2 C-12Js in use, 1 in Korea and 1 in Germany.
Note: The U.S. military also operates other King Air versions under other designations, including the C-6 Ute and T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations.
Operators
- USA
- Greece
Specifications (King Air B200)
Data from Airliners.net,[13] Janes[14]
General characteristics
Performance
- Maximum speed: 333 mph (289 knots, 499 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
- Range: 2,075 mi (1,800 nm, 3,338 km) with maximum fuel and 45 minute reserve
- Service ceiling: 32,800 ft (10,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,450 ft/min (12.5 m/s)
- Wing loading: 41.3 lb/ft² (201.6 kg/m²)
- Fuel consumption: 0.1667 gal/mi
- Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (220 W/kg)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ^ a b "King Air timeline from". Wings over Kansas. http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/history/article.asp?id=346. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Air Force Fact Sheet". Holloman.af.mil. http://www.holloman.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet_media.asp?fsID=5921. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson – Home". Elmendorf.af.mil. http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/3Wing/Groups/3OG/517AS/Webdocs/index.htm. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ John Pike (27 April 2005). "C-12J at Global Security.org". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-12j.htm. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Army aviation web page". Usarmyaviation.com. http://www.usarmyaviation.com/fixedwing.htm. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ John Pike (26 April 2005). "Special Electronic Mission Aircraft listing at". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/sema.htm. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Harding, Stephen (1997). U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Atglen, PA, USA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 30. ISBN 96-69996.
- ^ "Northrop reveals interest in new upgrade for RC-12X". 14 February 2011. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/11/353108/northrop-reveals-interest-in-new-upgrade-for-rc-12x.html. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ "Curtain Goes Up on Project Liberty". Airforce-magazine.com. http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2009/January%202009/January%2026%202009/CurtainGoesUponProjectLiberty.aspx. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Vanden Brook, Tom, "Newest Manned Spy Plane Scores Points In War Effort", USA Today, 2 June 2010, p. 5.
- ^ "USAF to unleash 'Gorgon Stare' sensor in 2010". Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/28/321732/usaf-to-unleash-gorgon-stare-sensor-in-2010.html. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ McCoy, Daniel (18 May 2010). "Hawker rolls out first UC-12W". http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2010/05/17/daily15.html.
- ^ Lundgren, Johan (1996-2006). Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 200. Airliners.net. AirNav Systems LLC. URL accessed on 30 July 2006.
- ^ Jackson, Paul; Munson, Kenneth; Peacock, Lindsay. Jane's All the World's Aircraft. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2684-3.
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