Beechcraft 99
| Model 99 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A Jamaica Air Shuttle Model 99 | |
| Role | Twin-engined utility monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft |
| First flight | July 1966 |
| Introduction | 1968 |
| Status | Active |
| Produced | 1966-1987 |
| Developed from |
Beechcraft King Air Beechcraft Queen Air |
The Beechcraft Model 99 is a civilian aircraft produced by the Beechcraft. It is also known as the Beech 99 Airliner and the Commuter 99. The 99 is a twin-engine, unpressurized, 15 to 17 passenger seat turboprop aircraft, derived from the 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.
Designed in the 1960s as a replacement for the Beechcraft Model 18, it first flew in July 1966. It received type certification on May 2, 1968, and 62 aircraft were delivered by the end of the year.
In 1984, the Beechcraft 1900, a pressurized 19-passenger airplane, was introduced as the follow-on aircraft.
Production ended in early 1987. Nearly half the Beech 99s in airline service are now operated as freighters by Ameriflight.
In July 2011 a total of 130 Beech 99 aircraft remained in civil service, all but two of them in North and South America. Major operators included Alpine Air Express (12 aircraft), Ameriflight (57), Bemidji Airlines (11), Freight Runners Express (10) and Wiggins Airways (10) with these aircraft primarily being operated in air freight operations. 21 other airlines and the National Police of Colombia operated smaller numbers of the type. Wiggins was acquired by Ameriflight and is the biggest operator of the type. In June 2015, Lake Clark Air was operating a Beech 99 from Port Alsworth, AK.
A considerable number of commuter and regional airlines in the U.S. and Canada previously operated the Beechcraft Model 99 in scheduled passenger service. The following list of air carriers is taken from Official Airline Guide (OAG) flight schedules from 1974 to 1995:
Other small commuter airlines in the U.S. and Canada operated the Beechcraft Model 99 as well. The aircraft has also been used in air cargo feeder operations transporting freight.
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