MODERN AIRCRAFT
Beechcraft C-12 Huron
Military Utility / Special Mission Aircraft
The Beechcraft C-12 Huron is based on the Super King and 1900 series platforms and serves with the United States military as a utility transport among other roles.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Edited: 11/8/2017
Credit: Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery network.
Status: Active, In-Service
Manufacturer(s): Beechcraft - USA
Production: 40
Capabilities: Transport; Commercial Market;
Width: 54.46 ft (16.6 m)
Weight (Empty): 7,760 lb (3,520 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
Power: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 engines developing 550 horsepower.
Speed: 332 mph (535 kph; 289 kts)
Rate-of-Climb: 2,450 ft/min (747 m/min)
Operators: Greece; Iran; Israel; Pakistan; United States
The Beechcraft Super King Air (Super King Air 200 model) civilian utility aircraft forms the basis of the U.S. military's C-12 "Huron" military-minded hauler. The type was introduced in 1974 and maintains an active presence in the air fleets of the United States Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. Other operators include the Hellenic Army, the Israeli Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force. The Huron provides multi-mission support to the various American services, able to tackle sorties related to personnel transportation, light cargo movement, humanitarian assistance and MEDical EVACuation missions (MEDEVAC). it can also serve as a pilot training platform and an airborne testbed for various aircraft components and systems.
At its core, the aircraft is crewed by one with a capacity for up to thirteen passengers. It features an overall length of 43.8 feet with a wingspan reaching 54.5 feet and a height of 15 feet. Empty weight is 7,755lb and Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is 12,500lb. Power is from 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 series turboprop engines developing 850 horsepower each. Performance includes a maximum speed of 333 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 35,000 feet and range out to 2,075 miles. Rate-of-climb is 2,450 feet-per-minute.
Overall design is conventional with the cockpit seated aft of a short, sloping nosecone assembly. The passenger section is aft of the cockpit and an access door is fitted to portside. The tail section holds the single vertical fin which seats the horizontal stabilizers high in a T-style arrangement. The wing mainplanes are mounted low along the sides of the fuselage and each carries an engine nacelle. The engines drive three-bladed propeller units. The nacelles also house a main landing gear leg (double-tired) while a nose leg is featured at the front of the aircraft.
The C-12 was taken into service in 1974 with the United States Army under the "C-12A" designation. In service, this mark was primarily used for the VIP transport role as well as liaison duties when needed. In 1979, the United States Navy and Marine Corps invested in the type and took the series into inventory with some modifications made to suit the service (namely the addition of a large cargo door). These were known as the UC-12B. The USN training model became the TC-12B and were based on the UC-12B mark.
The C-12C was given upgraded engines and the Army and Air Force's C-12D models introduced a cargo foot among other subtle changes. The Army also used the RC-12D as a SIGnals INTelligence (SIGINT) platform. The UC-12D was based on the King Air A200CT production model.
The C-12E was an upgraded C-12A for Air Force usage and the C-12F a transport variant. The Navy operated the UC-12F (King Air B200C) and the Army the RC-12G tactical intelligence model. The RC-12H became a U.S. Army SIGINT platform.
Other variants in the line have included the UC-12M with its upgraded cockpit/avionics, the RC-12M of the USN with its glass cockpit arrangement and the C-12T, an upgrade to the existing C-12F models for the U.S. Army. The C-12F was a USN model with surface-search radar fitted. The RU-12J became another special mission model (U.S. Army) and the C-12V an upgraded C-12R. The MC-12W Liberty was used by the USAF for the ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) role. UC-12W was a USN model based in the King Air 350.
RC-12 "Guardrail" is a specially-modified, special-mission Huron used in the dedicated SIGINT role by the United States Army.
• C-12 "Huron" - Base Series Designation
• C-12A - Initial production model
• UC-12B - USN/USMC model with added side cargo door.
• NC-12B - USN model with Sonobuoy launcher support.
• TC-12B - USN trainer model
• C-12C - Army and USAF model with upgraded engines; converted from C-12A stock.
• RC-12D - USN SIGINT aircraft
• UC-12D - Utility model based on King Air A200CT
• C-12E - USAF upgraded C-12A stock
• C-12F - USAF transport model
• RC-12F - USN UC-12F with surface-search radar installed.
• UC-12F - USN model with upgraded cockpit and avionics.
• RC-12G - Army variant for inteligence role
• RC-12H = SIGIN model for Army
• C-12L - Special program models (Cefly Lancer)
• UC-12M - USN model with upgraded cockpit and avionics.
• RC-12M - USN model with upgraded instruments and systems.
• C-12R - Glass cockpit fitted
• C-12T - Army C-12F models upgraded with new cockpits.
• C-12U - Army model with upgrades and improvements.
• RU-21J - Special mission model
• C-12V - UpgradedC-12R
• C-12S - Army model based on King Air 350
• MC-12W "Liberty" - Army SIGINT model
• UC-12W - USN model based on King Air 350
• C-12J - UASF model
• RC-12 "Guardrail" - Army SIGINT aircraft