Scudrunners

Chuck this picture was published in the local rag. Taken in the late 30's when [color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][font=arial][size=small]Starrett Airways was in it's hay day and Hudson[/size][b] [/b][/font][/color][size=small][color=#6a6a6a][font=arial]Ontario as an airport have more movements/day than O'Hare.[/font][/color] [/size][color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][font=arial][size=small]I suspect this must be an 18A and Jacobs. Not too many pics to be found of that cowl. Also I didn't think Bristol was doing floats then. Could they be Edos [/size][/font][/color]
[color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][/color]
[color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][img width=500 height=353]http://www.blackair.ca/work/beech.jpg[/img]
[/color][color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][/color][color=rgb(106, 106, 106)][/color]

I have never seen one of those before L.C.


My first Beech 18 was a D18s right straight out of the airforce including the paint outside and inside, in 1964.


The best B18 on wheels was the Volpar tri gear, flew one all one winter out of Lethbridge Alb. in 1969

[quote author=Chuck Ellsworth link=topic=1297.msg4977#msg4977 date=1449703503]
The best B18 on wheels was the Volpar tri gear, flew one all one winter out of Lethbridge Alb. in 1969
[/quote]


I've heard that said before, but never really heard it explained.  Why was the Volpar version better?

The Volpar was better because it was more passenger friendly as they did not have to walk up and down an incline when getting in and out of it and they sat level when it was taxiing.

Once airborne of course it flew exactly like any other B18.

Its only weak point was gear retraction time, it took longer than the standard Beech which had to be taken into consideration after lift off in case you lost an engine at that part of the take off .

I never worried about it because I always rotate accelerate and then confirm positive rate of climb before retracting the gear and setting the climb angle. 

If you look at pictures of it is a nice looking thing.

[quote author=Chuck Ellsworth link=topic=1297.msg4992#msg4992 date=1449711325]
The Volpar was better because it was more passenger friendly as they did not have to walk up and down an incline when getting in and out of it and they sat level when it was taxiing.
[/quote]


Interesting, thanks.  That's not an advantage I ever would have guessed!