1968 Beech B-99 Airliner N949K (sn U-36) Ameriflight Photo taken March 2009 Moses Lake - Grant Co Int’l, WA - USA (MWH / KMWH) Photo © AirplaneMart.com	1968 Beechcraft 99 C-FKHD (sn U-11) North-Wright Airways Ltd. Photo taken May 2009 Norman Wells Airport, NT Canada (YVQ / CYVQ) Photo Copyright Marcel Siegenthaler
1968 Beechcraft 99 Airliner C-FKBK (sn U-18) Kenn Borek Air Ltd. Photo taken March 2010 Paulatuk, NT Canada (CYPC) Photo © Marcel Siegenthaler

The Beechcraft Model 99 is a civilian aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (previously the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon and now a unit of Hawker Beechcraft). It is also known as the Beech 99 Airliner and the Commuter 99. The 99 is a twin-engined, unpressurized, 17-seat/15 passenger turboprop aircraft, derived from earlier Beechcraft King Air and Queen Air, using the wings of the Queen Air, and the engines and nacelles of the King Air, and sub-systems from both, and with a unique nose structure used only on the 99.

History

Designed in the 1960s as a replacement for the Beechcraft Model 18 its first flight was in July 1966. It received type certification on May 2, 1968, and sixty-two aircraft were delivered by the end of the year.

In 1984, the Beechcraft 1900, a pressurized 19-passenger airplane, was the follow on aircraft.

Production ended in 1986. Nearly half the Beech 99s in airline service are now operated as freighters by Ameriflight.

Models

Beechcraft 99: (10,400 lb max takeoff weight, Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 engines flat rated at 550 hp)
Beechcraft 99A: (same as 99, but PT6A-27 engines flat rated at 550 HP)
Beechcraft A99A: (one of a kind, 99A without wing center section tanks; this aircraft has been scrapped)
Beechcraft B99 Airliner: (10,900 lb max takeoff weight, PT6A-27 engines flat rated at 680 hp)
Beechcraft B99 Executive:
Beechcraft C99 Commuter: 11,300 lb (5,100 kg) max takeoff weight, PT6A-36 engines flat rated at 715 hp)

Operators

Civilian
In August 2006 a total of 134 Beech 99 aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include: Alpine Air Express (14), Ameriflight (57) and Wiggins Airways (11). Some 25 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.

Military
Chile
Peru
Thailand

Specifications (Model 99A)

General characteristics
Crew: One
Capacity: Normally 15 passengers (8-seat 'Business Executive' model available)
Length: 44 ft 6¾ in (13.58 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 10½ in (13.98 m)
Height: 14 ft 4⅓ in (4.37 m)
Wing area: 279.7 ft² (25.99 m²)
Empty weight: 5,533 lb (varies depending upon equipment and configuration) (2,515 kg)
Loaded weight: <!10400 lb (99 and 99A)l 10900 lb (B99 and aircraft modified with Beech Kit 99-5014); 11300 lb (C99)
Max takeoff weight: 10,400, 10,900, or 11,300 lb -- see above (4,727 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20, -27. or -36 turboprop Hartzell constant speed, feathering, and reversing, 550, 680, 0r 715 eshp depending upon model/mod status (487 kW) each

Performance
Cruise speed: 205 knots
Range: 910 nm (1,048 mi, 1,686 km) at 216 mph (347 km/h) at 8,000 ft (2,440 m)
Service ceiling: 26,200 ft (7,988 m)
Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.63 m/s)