The Beechcraft C90 is a graceful twin-engine turboprop that has proven a versatile aircraft throughout its decades of service. It remains a popular airframe as a corporate transport, air ambulance, scientific research, cargo transport, and various military applications.

Some may be surprised to learn that the Beechcraft model 90 has been gracing the skies for 63 years. Development of the aircraft began in 1961 and was based on the Queen Air, but incorporating Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 turboprop engines. The first prototype flew in January 1964 with 152 being ordered by October. The model A90 was introduced in 1966, incorporating the PT6A-20 turboprops, with production shifting to the model B90 in 1968. Orders for the aircraft included military and civilian.

The model C90 was introduced in 1971 and incorporated an increased wingspan and takeoff weight. The model C90-1 (1982) and C90-A (1987) introduced numerous upgrades to the aircraft’s systems, including hydraulic landing gear and a triple-fed electrical bus. In 1992 the C90B was introduced with improvements to the airframe, PT6A-21s turboprops, four-bladed propellers, and propeller synchronization.

The C90B has a crew complement of two and can seat five passengers. The aircraft is capable of operating out of smaller airfields, landing in under 4,000 feet and take off if less than 3,000 feet. One of the most impressive aspects of the aircraft is its ability to operate with a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, thanks to its pressurization system. It’s cruising speed of 234 knots and range of 1,300 nautical miles is achieved by its fuel efficient turboprops.

As of march 2021, Beechcraft discontinued the C90 line. However with over 3,100 manufactured, this aircraft will continue to grace the skies for years to come.

Hands down, one of the most iconic aircraft of all time is the Douglas DC-3. It revolutionized air travel by providing safety and reliability in addition to comfort. It was fast, with a cruising speed of 207 mph, and had a long range of 1,580 miles. It’s rugged construction and excellent lift allowed it to operate from short and unpaved runways. Most importantly though, it made air travel profitable to the airlines without the need for mail subsidies.

The DC-3 first entered service in 1936 and was originally designed as a sleeper version of the smaller DC-2. Douglas was originally reluctant to manufacture the larger aircraft and only did so after American Airlines promised to purchase 20 of them. The sleeper version, known as the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) had 14 berths, while the non-sleeper version, the DC-3 had 21 seats. They provided superior comfort compared to earlier passenger aircraft and could fly from coast to coast in 15 to 18 hours with only a handful of stops along the way. Prior to the DC-3, passengers would cross the country by air during the day and travel by train at night.

The DC-3 saw great success prior to the outbreak of World War II with 607 aircraft being built. After the outbreak of war, the DC-3 would serve the United States and her allies as the venerable C-47. The C-47, also known as the Skytrain, or Dakota by the British, had a reinforced floor and two large cargo doors in the rear. Not only did it carry cargo, but it was responsible for carrying paratroopers to their jump points, especially during the D-Day operation. A total of 16,000 C-47s were manufactured during the war.

After the war, Douglas developed the Super DC-3, though only a handful were built since many airlines opted to purchase the abundant surplus C-47s and concert them for passenger service. The aircraft saw safe and reliable service after the war, though it was soon eclipsed by larger and faster aircraft such as the DC-4, DC-6, and Lockheed Constellation. They were eventually relegated to secondary routes by the major airlines until eventually being replaced by more modern aircraft. However the DC-3 saw continued service for many years with smaller regional airlines due to their rugged construction, and abundance of spare parts.

For an aircraft that first flew 87 years ago (as of 2023) one would expect the glory days of the DC-3 to be over, but nothing could be farther from the truth. While they don’t grace the skies in the same numbers as during their heyday, there are several hundred that are still in commercial service. Most surprising is the number of DC-3s in service are actually increasing! Companies such as Basler Turbo Conversions are renown for their refurbishment and conversions of the DC-3 to turboprops, breathing new life and purpose into these legendary aircraft. This proves the old adage that the only replacement for a DC-3 is a DC-3.