This repaint, which requires the Microsoft Local Legends #5 (Beechcraft Model 18) product to be installed, depicts the restored Beechcraft Expeditor Mk.3NM c/n CA-104, registered as N7185 to Pacific Aerostar LLC in Sonoma, California. The aircraft is painted in the markings of a US Marine Corps Beech SNB-5/UC-45J stationed at MCAS El Toro, circa the 1950s and 60s.
This aircraft was originally built by Beechcraft as an Expeditor Mk.3NM navigational trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and delivered to the RCAF at North Bay, Ontario in March 1952. Assigned the RCAF serial number 1504, it served at a number of Canadian air bases including Cold Lake, Bagotville, Chatham, Rockcliffe, Dunnville, Winnepeg, and Portage, before being placed into storage at Saskatoon in November 1966. It was sold surplus to Hamilton Aircraft Co. Inc. of Tuscon, AZ in July 1968 with 6,116 hrs total-time. After passing through a few more civilian owners, the aircraft wound up being used as a drug runner in the mid 1970s, flying several trips between Mexico and Nevada, before it was later used in sting operations for federal agents. By 1980, the aircraft's civilian registration was revoked, and it ended up stored in a backyard in Compton, CA for a number of years. It was acquired by Lee Cameron in 1996, who set about restoring the Expeditor to flying condition, and the restoration continued when Casey Aircraft Services of Woodlands, TX acquired it in 1998. The restoration was completed in 2002, with the aircraft painted in the DayGlo-orange and white color scheme of a US Marine Corps Beech SNB-5/UC-45J stationed at MCAS El Toro in the 1950s and 60s. In 2010, the aircraft was sold to Scott Rozzell of Houston, TX, and in 2021 it was sold to its current owner, Dean Thomas (Pacific Aerostar LLC) of Sonoma, CA. During this time the aircraft has been repainted at least once, but has retained the same Marine Corps paint scheme. The aircraft was featured in the May/June 2016 issue of Warbird Digest, the 2011 Ghosts Calendar (Nov.), was the subject of a die-cast model, and has been seen at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh many years.
Notes about the repaint: The stars & bars insignias are accurately drawn to match the inaccurate stars & bars on the real aircraft. What appears might be non-slip tape on the wings is actually just painted on the real aircraft, and thus is only depicted as paint on this repaint as well.
Beautiful liveries for the Twin Beech! I don't don't know if it's in the creator's or admin's hands, but these belong in the Beech 18 category so more people can find them!
1 years ago
Thank you! I've just gone through and updated all of the listings. When I made these repaints, there wasn't a Beech 18 category yet.
1 years ago
Bomber12th
TheScreenCaptain
Spectacular livery! Not just the Paint job but the subtle weathering and pollution behind the panel lines and rivet heads is why B12 is one of the best out there!
2 years ago
Deacon211
She's a beaut!!
2 years ago
LegibleSphere
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for the hard work and dedication you put into this livery. I love it.
2 years ago
devdog99
AH ! John you have forced me to add the Expeditor to my hanger !!! Beautiful job.
2 years ago
FERG
Really nice livery and wery well done.
2 years ago
antoniozzi
Another beauty John, thanks very much. Impeccable detail.
2 years ago
DeltaSierra