View source for Beechcraft Queen Air

{{Short description|1958 twin-piston-engine utility aircraft family}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2010}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Queen Air
 |image= File:Be65 Iruma (22085832262) (cropped).jpg
 |caption= [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] A65-8200 in 1994
 |type=[[Utility aircraft]]<br/>[[Airliner]]
 |manufacturers=[[Beechcraft|Beech Aircraft Corporation]]
 |designer=Beech Aircraft Corporation
 |first_flight=August 28, 1958
 |introduction=1960
 |retired=
 |status=In service
 |primary_user=<!--please list only one-->
 |more_users=<!--up to three more. please separate with <br/>.-->
 |produced=1960-1978
 |number_built=1,005<ref name=BeechSNlist>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Beechcraft and Hawker Serialization List: 1945 thru 2023 |url=https://ww2.txtav.com/TechnicalPublications/Downloads/DownloadNonTechFile?Filename=serializationList.pdf |url-access=registration |website=[[Textron Aviation]]}}</ref><ref name=Simpson1995>{{Cite book |last=Simpson|first=R.W. |title=Airlife's General Aviation: A guide to Postwar General Aviation Manufacturers and their aircraft |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year=1995 |isbn=1-85310-577-5 |edition=2nd |pages=68, 76}}</ref><!-- Construction number count: 6 L-series, 35 LB-series, 335 LC-series, 511 LD-series, 70 LF-series, 1 LN-series, 47 LP-series -->
 |developed_from = [[Beechcraft Twin Bonanza]]
 |developed_into = [[Beechcraft King Air]]<br> [[Beechcraft Model 99]]
}}

The '''Beechcraft Queen Air''' is a twin-engined light aircraft produced by [[Beechcraft]] in numerous versions from 1960 to 1978. Based upon the [[Beechcraft Twin Bonanza|Twin Bonanza]], with which it shared key components such as wings, engines, and tail surfaces, it had a larger fuselage, and served as the basis for the highly successful [[Beechcraft King Air|King Air]] series of turboprop aircraft.  Its primary uses have been as a private aircraft, utility, and small [[Regional airliner|commuter airliner]]. Production ran for 17 years.

==Design and development==
With the company's popular [[Beechcraft Twin Bonanza|Twin Bonanza]] reaching its limits of development, Beechcraft decided to develop a design based on it but with a larger fuselage and new tail.  The result was the Beech 65, the first of the Queen Air series, a twin-engined nine-seat low-wing cantilever cabin monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear. It was initially powered by two {{convert|340|hp|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-480|Lycoming IGSO-480]] six-cylinder, horizontally opposed piston engines.

Early in development the United States Army, which had been a customer of the Twin Bonanza (designated the L-23 Seminole), ordered 68 aircraft under the designation '''L-23F'''. The prototype Beech 65 first flew on August 28, 1958, with the production model receiving a Federal Aviation Authority type certificate on February 4, 1959; initial deliveries were made soon after. On February 8, 1960, a Queen Air achieved a new height record of 34,862 feet.

The basic Model 65 was in production until 1967, overlapped by the introduction of other variants, and was followed by improved Model A65 with a swept rather than vertical tail. Variants introduced a longer wing in some models, as well as pressurization in one.  The Queen Air series ended in 1978.

==Variants==
[[File:Beech65 QueenAir.jpg|thumb|right|Beechcraft Model 65 Queen Air]]

===65===
This is the initial version of the Queen Air, powered by two  {{convert|340|hp|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-480|Lycoming IGSO-480]]s. Fitted with short span ({{convert|45|ft|10+1/2|in|m|2}}) wings and a straight unswept tail. It had a gross weight of {{convert|7700|lb|abbr=on}}. Usually referred to as a "straight 65". 316 built from 1959 to 1967.<ref name="pellp114,20">Pelletier 1995, pp. 114, 120</ref>

===A65===
First produced in 1967, the A65 is very similar to the straight 65. The major change was the addition of a swept tail with a dorsal fin. Available fuel was also increased, with a maximum capacity of {{convert|264|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}} when auxiliary tanks are fitted. A dedicated airliner version, the A65-8200 Queen Airliner was available with an increased gross weight of {{convert|8200|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. A total of 96 A65s were built between 1967 and 1970.<ref name="pellp1156">Pelletier 1996, pp. 115–116</ref>

===70===
Introduced in 1968, the 70 is essentially an A65 with the B80 wing. This allows the 70 to have a greater lifting ability than the 65 but a lower fuel burn and operating cost than the 80. It. Its gross weight is {{convert|8200|lb|abbr=on}}. A total of 35 were built between 1969 and 1971.<ref name="pellp1167,20">Pelletier 1996, pp. 116–117, 120</ref>

===80===
The 80 (also known as the Model 65-80) was the first of the Queen Airs to have the swept tail, although it retained the short wings of the Model 65. First flown on June 22, 1961, and [[type certificate|certified]] on February 20, 1962,<ref name="jawa71 p234">Taylor 1971, p. 234.</ref> it was powered by {{convert|380|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-540|Lycoming IGSO-540]] and had a gross weight of {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}}. 148 built from 1962 to 1963.<ref name="pellp115,20">Pelletier 1996, pp. 115, 120</ref>

===A80===
[[File:N55SA (15292611832).jpg|thumb|[[Bemidji Airlines]] Beech 65-A80]]
The A80 (also known as the Model 65-A80) was introduced in 1964 with a new, longer wing, increasing [[wingspan]] from {{convert|45|ft|10+1/2|in|m|2}} to {{convert|50|ft|3|in|m}}.<ref name="jawa71 p234"/><ref name="pellp116">Pelletier 1996, p. 116</ref> Other major changes included a redesign of the aircraft nose, an increase in fuel capacity, and a 500-pound increase in takeoff weight to {{convert|8500|lb|abbr=on}} gross.<ref name="pellp116"/><ref name="jawa65p184">Taylor 1965, p. 164</ref> 121 built between 1964 and 1966.<ref name="pellp116"/>

===B80===
Introduced in 1966, the B80 became the final Queen Air and had by far the longest production run in the series, some 12 years.  Available with either 380&nbsp;hp Lycoming IGSO-540-A1A or {{convert|360|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Lycoming IGSO-540-A1D engines, its major improvement was the increased gross weight to a {{convert|8800|lb|abbr=on}}. 242 built from 1966 to 1977.<ref name="pellp116,20">Pelletier 1996, pp. 116, 120</ref>

===85D===
A single Model 85D was built with construction number LN-1.  It later became the prototype for the Model 65-88.<ref name=Simpson1995/>

===88===
[[File:Beech 65-88 Queen Air N67T OPA 29.09.79 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|A pressurized Model 88 Queen Air built in 1966, with the model's distinctive circular fuselage windows]]
First flown on 2 July 1965,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pelletier |first1=A.J. |title=Beech Aircraft and Their Predecessors |date=1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-062-2 |page=185}}</ref> the Model 88 was introduced later that year. The only pressurized Queen Air, it shares the engines and long wing of the B80. Sales were slack due to its higher sales price and lower useful load as compared to the B80, and ended in 1969. Only 47 examples were produced, of which two were converted to [[Beechcraft King Air|King Air]] standard.

Its round cabin windows make the 88 look quite similar to a 90 series King Air. The first two models of the King Air's official designation were 65-90 and 65-A90 owing to its Queen Air heritage.

===Excalibur===
[[File:QueenAir.jpg|thumb|Queen Air 65 Excalibur conversion prior to a 2011 round-the-world attempt]]

Th Excalibur is an up-engined aftermarket modification to the 65 performed by [[supplemental type certificate]]s (STC). It replaced the six-cylinder [[Lycoming O-480|Lycoming IGSO-480]] and [[Lycoming O-540|Lycoming IGSO-540]] with the far more robust eight-cylinder {{convert|400|hp|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-720|Lycoming IO-720]]. This eliminated the need for a gearbox or superchargers and their associated maintenance and potential reliability problems, at the expense of being limited to a cruising altitude below fifteen thousand feet. Gross weights increased to {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}} for all short-wing aircraft (65, A65, 80), {{convert|8200|lb|abbr=on}} for the 70, and 8800 for the other long-wing aircraft (A80, B80, 88). The US Army National Guard installed this modification on some of their aircraft. The Excalibur can be recognized by the noticeably smaller engine cowlings and lower-set engines. It was originally designed and produced by Ed Swearingen, who was well known for his work on the Twin Bonanza, Queen Air, and later [[Swearingen Merlin|Merlin]] and [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner|Metro]] Swearingen aircraft. The ownership of the pictured aircraft changed hands many times over the years, and was [[Bemidji Airlines|Bemidji Aviation]], an operator of Excalibur Queen Airs as well as other charter and freight aircraft in the upper mid-west of the United States, at the time of the photo in 2011.

===Military variants===
;[[Beechcraft L-23 Seminole|L-23F]]
:24 aircraft based on the Beechcraft Queen Air delivered to the US Army.<ref name="JB58">Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/1958.html "USAF/US Army 1958 Serials list."]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} ''USAF Aircraft''. Retrieved: 11 June 2011</ref><ref name="JB60">{{Cite web |title=1960 USAF Serial Numbers |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1960.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref><ref name="JB61">{{Cite web |title=1961 USAF Serial Numbers |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1961.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref>
;U-8F
:L-23F redesignated in 1962 and 46 new-build aircraft delivered to the US Army, plus single Beechcraft Model 87 delivered used as NU-8F in 1964<ref name="JB63">{{cite web|last=Baugher|first=Joe|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1963.html|title=1963 USAF Serial Numbers|website=joebaugher.com|date=13 November 2021|access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1962 USAF Serial Numbers |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1962.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref> and one Queen Air purchased second-hand in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1966 USAF Serial Numbers |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1966.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref> In addition, one U-8F was delivered to the [[Pakistan Army]] instead of the US Army<ref name="JB63"/> and two Queen Airs [[War on Drugs|confiscated from drug runners]] were added to the US Army inventory in 1981 as U-8Fs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1981 USAF Serial Numbers |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1981.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref>
;NU-8F
:US military designation assigned to a modified commercial Queen Air converted as the prototype [[Beechcraft King Air|Model 65-90 King Air]], and fitted with two 500 shp [[Pratt & Whitney PT6A]]-6 turboprop engines.<ref>Harding 1997, p. 22.</ref> The aircraft was evaluated by the US Army in 1964.
;C-8
:[[Brazilian Air Force]] designation for the Model B80.  Originally designated '''U-8'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>
;EU-8
:Brazilian Air Force designation for "electronics" variant of the Model B80.<ref name=":0" />
;B.PhTh.2
:({{langx|th|บ.ผท.๒}}) [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]] designation for the Model B80.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>
;B.PhTh.2A
:({{langx|th|บ.ผท.๒ก}}) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Model A80.<ref name=":1" />

===Production numbers===
Production numbers of Beechcraft Queen Airs by variant:<ref name=BeechSNlist/><ref name=Simpson1995/>
*'''65 and A65''' - 411 (including military production)
*'''70''' - 35
*'''80, A80, B80''' - 511
*'''85D''' - 1
*'''88''' - 47
*'''Total''' - 1,005


==Military operators==
{{acopmap|Beechcraft Queen Air|Military Queen Air operators}}
; {{ALG}}
: [[Algerian Air Force]] - 3 B80s in service as of 1986.<ref name="fiwaf86p32">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 32.</ref>
; {{ARG}}
: [[Argentine Army Aviation]]<ref>[http://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-102/?p=2592 "Back to 1987: Don Torcuato’s 40th anniversary air show" - Gaceta Aeronautica 28 October 2013] (accessed April 16, 2016)</ref>
: [[Argentine Naval Aviation]] - 5 B80s as of 1986.<ref name="fiwaf86p34">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 34.</ref>
: [[Argentine National Gendarmerie]] - At least one aircraft confiscated from drug smugglers operated in late 1990s<ref>Rivas ''Air International'' April 2021, pp. 47–48.</ref>
; {{BRA}}: Eight aircraft received,<ref name="pellp119">Pelletier 1996, p. 119</ref>
; {{BIR}}: One Queen Air operated.<ref name="pellp119"/>
; {{COL}}
: [[Colombian Air Force]]<ref name="fiwaf86p46">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 46.</ref>
; {{DOM}}
: [[Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic#Air Force of the Dominican Republic|Air Force of the Dominican Republic]]<ref name="fiwaf86p49">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 49.</ref>
; {{ECU}}
: [[Ecuadorian Army]]<ref name="fiwaf86p50">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 50.</ref>
; {{IND}}
: [[Border Security Force]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bsf.nic.in/en/air-wing.html |title=Indian Border Security Force official website |access-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820142102/http://www.bsf.nic.in/en/air-wing.html |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
; {{ISR}}
: [[Israeli Air Force]] - Seven B80s received.<ref name="pellp119"/>
; {{flagicon|Haiti}}
:[[Haitian Air Corps|Haiti Air Corps]]
; {{JPN}}
: [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]]
::[[Central Air Command Support Squadron (JASDF)|Central Air Command Support Squadron]]
: [[Japan Maritime Self Defense Force]]<ref name="jawa71 p233">Taylor 1971, p. 233.</ref>
; {{NEP}} - One Model 80<ref name="pellp119"/>
; {{PAK}}<ref name="pellp119"/>
; {{PER}}
*[[Peruvian Air Force]] acquired 18 Queen Airs in 1965–1966.<ref>''Air International'' May 1988, pp. 231–232.</ref>
*[[Peruvian Army]]<ref name="fiwaf86p78">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 78.</ref>
; {{PHL}}
: [[Philippine Army]] - 1 unit PA-701 LD-149 Model Be.65-80 retired at [[Fort Magsaysay]], Nueva Ecija.<ref>https://www.spottingmode.com/wro/philippines/planes/</ref>
; {{flag|South Africa|1928}}
: [[South African Air Force]] 1975-1992
; {{THA}}
: [[Royal Thai Air Force]]<ref name="fiwaf86p92">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 92.</ref>
; {{USA}}
: [[United States Army]]<ref name="hardp14-5">Harding 1990, pp. 14–15.</ref>
; {{URU}}
: [[Uruguayan Air Force]]<ref name="fiwaf86p102">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 102.</ref>
; {{VEN}}
: [[Venezuelan Air Force]] - Two Model 65s and seven A80s.<ref name="pellp119"/>
: [[Venezuelan Army]]<ref>Hatch ''Air Pictorial'' April 1984, p. 127.</ref>
: [[Venezuelan National Guard]]<ref name="fiwaf86p103">Hatch ''Flight International'' 29 November 1986, p. 103.</ref>

==Specifications (Queen Air B80)==
[[File:Beechcraft L-23F Seminole 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Beechcraft L-23F Seminole]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77''.<ref name="Janes 76 p217-8">Taylor 1976, pp. 217–218.</ref>
|prime units?=kts
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=1–2
|capacity=4–9 passengers
|length m=
|length ft=35
|length in=6
|span m=
|span ft=50
|span in=3
|height m=
|height ft=14
|height in=2+1/2
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=293.9
|airfoil=NACA 23020 at root, NACA  23012 at tip
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=5277
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=8800
|fuel capacity={{convert|214|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}} normal, {{convert|264|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}} with optional auxiliary tanks
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Lycoming O-540|Lycoming IGSO-540 A1D]]
|eng1 type=supercharged, air-cooled [[flat-6]] engines
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=380<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=3<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hartzell constant speed
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=215
|max speed note=at {{convert|11500|ft|m|abbr=on}}<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed kts=159
|cruise speed note=at {{convert|15000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, 45% power (econ cruise)
|stall speed kts=71
|stall speed note=wheels and flaps down, [[indicated airspeed|IAS]]
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=1317
|range note=at {{convert|15000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, 45% power
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=26800
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1275
|more performance=*'''Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15m):''' {{convert|2556|ft|m|abbr=on}}
*'''Landing distance from 50 ft (15m):''' {{convert|2572|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
<!-- From which older designs was this plane developed, and what planes did it lead to? -->
* [[Beechcraft Twin Bonanza]]
* [[Beechcraft King Air]]
|similar aircraft=
<!-- aircraft with similar role and capability -->
* [[Cessna 404 Titan]]
|see also=
<!-- For related Wikipedia articles. -->
}}

==References==
{{commons category|Beechcraft Queen Air}}

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*"Andean Air Power...The Peruvian Air Force". ''[[Air International]]'', May 1988. Vol. 34, No. 5. pp.&nbsp;224–235, 240.
* Harding, Stephen. ''U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947''. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1990. {{ISBN|1-85310-102-8}}.
* Harding, Stephen. ''U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947: An Illustrated Reference.'' Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-7643-0190-2}}.
* Hatch, Paul F. "Air Forces of the World: Venezuelan Army Air Arm (Aviación del Ejercito Venezolana)". ''Air Pictorial'', April 1994, Vol. 46 No. 4. p.&nbsp;127.
* Hatch, Paul F. [https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%203176.html "World's Air Forces 1986"]. ''[[Flight International]]'', 29 November 1986, Vol. 130, No. 4039. pp.&nbsp;30–104. {{ISSN|0015-3710}}.
* Pelletier, A. J. ''Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. {{ISBN|1-55750-062-2}}.
* Rivas, Santiago. "Cracking the Drug cartels". ''[[Air International]]'', April 2021. Vol. 100, No. 4, pp.&nbsp;46–49 {{issn|0306-5634}}
* [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1965–66''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd., 1965.
* Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd., 1971. {{ISBN|0-354-00094-2}}.
* Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77''. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}.

{{King Air family}}
{{Beechcraft}}
{{Thai civil aircraft designations}}
{{FAB aircraft designations}}

[[Category:1950s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Beechcraft aircraft|Queen Air]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1958]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]