Photograph:
Beech 76 Duchess VH-TTB (c/n ME-359) at Essendon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Four-seat light twin-engine cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
Two 134 kw (180 hp) Avco Lycoming O-360-A1G6D six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11.58 m (38 ft)
- Length: 8.84 m (29 ft)
- Height: 2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 16.81 m² (181 sq ft)
- Max speed: 317 km/h (197 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 1,830 m (6,000 ft): 307 km/h (191 mph)
- Normal cruising speed at 3,658 m (12,000 ft): 277 km/h (172 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 111 km/h (69 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 378 m/min (1,248 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,989 m (19,650 ft)
- Range at economical cruising speed: 1,445 km (898 miles)
- Take-off run: 310 m (1,017 ft)
- Landing run: 305 m (1,000 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 378 litres (83 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 1,110 kg (2,446 lb)
- Useful load: 580 kg (1,280 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,770 kg (3,900 lb)
History:
Of similar appearance to the Grumman Cougar and Piper Seminole, like those aircraft the Beech 76 Duchess was designed as a low-cost, high-volume, production aircraft featuring honeycomb-bonded wings, handed propellers, and electrically-operated flaps and trim tabs. It was aimed at pilots stepping up from single to twin engined operations, and for those entering personal or business flying for the first time.
Doors on each side of the cockpit, and a separate door for the baggage compartment were an unusual inclusion in its class.
The prototype was flown in September 1974 and at that stage it was known as the PD289, having 119 kw (160 hp) Lycoming O-320 engines. Type certification was received from the FAA on 24 January 1977. The first production aircraft known as the Model 76 was flown for the first time on 24 May 1977. Early production aircraft were delivered to Beech Aero Centres in the United States for training and over the years this model has basically been used in this region as a multi-engine trainer. In the first year 72 aircraft were delivered and during 1979 213 were completed.
The Duchess evolved from an earlier design, which was basically a Sierra with two engines and a ‘T’ tail, known as Project PD289. However, as this was not a success, a completely new aircraft was designed using 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 engines to drive inboard-rotating propellers. The retractable undercarriage featured an inwards retracting undercarriage with oleo shock absorbers, the nose unit being the same as the Bonanza A36. It had larger ailerons and the wing had integral fuel tanks. However, as the recession in 1980 hit the aviation industry, production of the series slowed, and in that year only 86 were delivered, 55 in 1981 and 11 in 1982. At that time it was decided to conclude production after 437 aircraft.
During its production life the Duchess only underwent small changes, these mainly involving improved door locks, aluminium rather than steel cowl flaps, improved engine mounts and an undercarriage warning horn muting system. In advertising the Duchess was described as “designed for thrifty use of fuel, low maintenance costs, and superb responsiveness – precisely the criteria which make the Duchess such a wise choice as a business airplane today. You’ll find the Duchess’ redundant systems quite reassuring. There are two of almost everything. And in this day and age of continually rising costs, you might also find it reassuring to know that the Duchess is an extraordinarily cost-efficient business twin”.
The first Australian aircraft arrived in March 1978 for the Australian distributor, Hawker Pacific of Bankstown, NSW and the first of the type in New Zealand ZK-ECE (c/n ME44) was imported by the distributor, James Aviation, in 1978, followed by ZK-ESA (c/n ME310). More than 50 examples have appeared on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register and eight on the New Zealand Register. Production concluded in 1982 following the economic recession and the problems associated with product liability laws in the United States.