Beechcraft C-12 Huron
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The Beechcraft C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine
turboprop A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...
aircraft based on the
Beechcraft Super King Air The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the "Super King Air" family; the "Super" designation was dropped in 1996. ...
and
Beechcraft 1900 The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop regional airliner manufactured by Beechcraft. It is also used as a freight aircraft and corporate transport, and by several governmental and military organizations. With c ...
. C-12 variants are used by the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
,
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
,
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
and
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer,
Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail The Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail is an airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform based on the Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. While the US military and specifically the United States Army have numerous personnel transpor ...
and Project Liberty programs.


Design and development

The first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and were used as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is a turboprop aircraft engine produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Its design was started in 1958, it first ran in February 1960, first flew on 30 May 1961, entered service in 1964 and has been continuously upda ...
A-41 engines. The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 1.32 m by 1.32 m; 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC-12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in
CONUS ''Conus'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, or cone snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2015). Conus Linnaeus, 1758. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at ...
and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept
litter Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. Litter can also be used as a verb; to litter means to drop and leave objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups, ...
patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft. A U.S. Air Force variant of the plane for surveillance roles primarily over Afghanistan and Iraq was the MC-12W Liberty. For that variant, Beechcraft built the basic plane and then sent it to
Greenville, Texas Greenville is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States, about northeast of Dallas. It is the county seat and largest city of Hunt County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557, and in 2019, its estimated population was 28,827. ...
where sophisticated
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ISTAR stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing t ...
(ISR) equipment was installed by L-3 Communications Missions Integration. As of 2013 the Liberty program had exceeded 300,000 combat flying hours. The MC-12W was rushed into combat as a supplemental surveillance and
signals intelligence Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...
asset; since its first combat mission on 10 June 2009, the aircraft flew 400,000 combat hours in 79,000 combat sorties, aiding in the kill or capture of "more than 8,000 terrorists" and uncovering 650 weapons caches. With its roles taken over by the growing
MQ-9 Reaper The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the Unit ...
fleet, the Air Force decided to divest itself of the 41 Liberty aircraft and turn them over to the U.S. Army and
U.S. Special Operations Command The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Arm ...
, which was completed by October 2015. The Air Force's final MC-12W deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ended on 13 October 2015.


C-12J

To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six C-12J aircraft, based on the
Beechcraft 1900 The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop regional airliner manufactured by Beechcraft. It is also used as a freight aircraft and corporate transport, and by several governmental and military organizations. With c ...
C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for
GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a Radionavigation-satellite service, satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of t ...
jamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron,
Holloman Air Force Base Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, and a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. Th ...
,
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
. Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron,
Elmendorf Air Force Base Elmendorf Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally known as Elmendorf Field, it became Elmendorf Air Force Base after World War II. It is the home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Air Command (AL ...
,
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
. Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight,
Osan Air Base Hanja:) , partof = , location = , nearest_town = Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province , country = South Korea , image = Osan Air Base 51 FW F-16 A-10 Flyby.jpg , alt = US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon and A-1 ...
, South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron,
Yokota Air Base , is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo. It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa. The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation.


TC-12B

The TC-12B Huron was a twin-engine, pressurized version of the Beechcraft Super King Air 200. Twenty five served with the US Navy with Training Squadron 35 (VT-35), the US Navy's only TC-12B Huron squadron based at
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is a United States Navy naval air base located six miles (10 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas. History A naval air station for Corpus Christi ...
, Texas, home of the Training Air Wing 4 (TAW-4). The US Navy retired this aircraft on 16 May 2017 and replaced and now relies on the T-44C for multi engine training. Although the UD- series 1900s were manufactured exclusively for military use, the United States military and other military and government organizations use 1900s from other series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere.


Variants


King Air 200-based variants

;C-12A: Used by the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
and air force for liaison and attache transport. Based on the King Air A200, with PT6A-38 engines driving three-bladed propellers, and normally seating for eight passengers. 60 delivered to US Army and 30 to USAF, with one to Greek Air Force. Survivors later upgraded to C-12C standard.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Winter 2003–2004, pp. 77–78Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, pp. 90–91 ;UC-12B:
U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
/ U.S. Marine Corps version with an additional cargo door and powered by PT6A-41 engines. Based on the King Air A200C. 66 built.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 91 ;NC-12B: Conversion of UC-12B as testbed for
sonobuoy A sonobuoy (a portmanteau of sonar and buoy) is a relatively small buoy – typically diameter and long – expendable sonar system that is dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic resea ...
s, fitted with four sonobuoy launchers. One converted. ;TC-12B: U.S. Navy training version developed by conversion of surplus UC-12B airframes. 20 converted. ;C-12C: Based on C-12A but with PT6A-41 engines. 14 new build aircraft for U.S. Army together with converted C-12As. ;C-12D: U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force version. Based on the King Air A200CT, with 850 shp PT-6A-41 or PT-6A-42 engines. Changes include larger cargo door, "high-flotation" landing gear (a Beechcraft option for larger main landing gear wheels for use on unimproved runways) and provision for wingtip fuel tanks. Forty built for US Army and 6 for US Air Force.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Winter 2003–2004, p. 78Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 92 ; RC-12D: Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the U.S. Army, fitted with ''Guardrail V'' SIGINT system. 13 converted from C-12Ds, with one de-converted to C-12D standard ;UC-12D: Based on the King Air A200CT (serial numbers BP-7 though BP-11). ;C-12E: Proposed upgraded C-12A aircraft with PT-6A-42 engines for the USAF. Program cancelled with no aircraft converted. ;C-12F: Operational support aircraft for USAF and US Army, powered by PT6A-42 engines. Forty (later known as C-12F3), based on King Air 200C with four-bladed propellers, leased from 1984 (and later purchased outright) by USAF, with further six delivered to Air National Guard. Twelve aircraft based on King Air A200CT and with three-bladed propellers purchased by US Army from 1985 (later known as C-12F1) and eight more based on King Air 200C but with three-bladed propellers to US Army (later C-12F-2).Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, pp. 92–93 ;RC-12F: U.S. Navy version of the UC-12F modified with AN/APS-140/504 surface search
radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
. Two converted for range surveillance duties at the
Pacific Missile Range Facility The Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands is a U.S. naval facility and airport located five nautical miles (9 km) northwest of the central business district of Kekaha, in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. PMRF is the world's larg ...
. Radar later removed and aircraft converted to operational support duties. ;UC-12F: U.S. Navy version based on the King Air B200C, powered by PT6A-41s driving three-bladed propellers. Twelve operated from 1982.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 93 Cockpit upgraded to Proline 21. ; RC-12G: U.S. Army version used for real-time tactical intelligence support under the ''Crazyhorse'' program. Based on C-12D, three built. ; RC-12H: Special mission, battlefield SIGINT aircraft for the U.S. Army, based on C-12D and fitted with ''Guardrail/Common Sensor 3 (Minus)'' SIGINT system. Six built.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 94 ;C-12L: Three A200s acquired for use in the ''Cefly Lancer'' program as RU-21Js; CEFLY is an acronym standing for Communications and Electronics Forward Looking Flying. In 1984 the three aircraft modified with new VIP interiors, and returned to the U.S. Army as C-12Ls. ;UC-12M: Support aircraft for US Navy based in King Air B200C. Twelve built. ;RC-12M: Conversion of UC-12M for range surveillance duties with AN/APS-140/504 surface search radar. Two converted. ;C-12R: Support aircraft for US Army based on King Air B200C, powered by PT6A-42 engines driving 4-bladed propellers and with EFIS
glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic (digital) flight instrument displays, typically large LCD screens, rather than the traditional style of analog dials and gauges. While a traditional cockpit relies on numerous mech ...
instrumentation. 29 built. Modifications for
Global air-traffic management {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009 Global air-traffic management (GATM) is a concept for satellite-based Communication, navigation and surveillance and air traffic management. The Federal Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation ...
given designation C-12R1. ;C-12T: Upgrade of earlier U.S. Army C-12F versions with improved cockpit instrumentation. ;C-12U: Upgrade of U.S. Army C-12T versions with improved cockpit instrumentation in order to meet global air traffic management directives. ;RU-21J: Special mission, battlefield ELINT aircraft. Three A200s were brought by the U.S. Army for use in the ''Cefly Lancer'' program in the early 1970s. ;C-12V: Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS


King Air 300-based variants

;MARSS: MULTI-INT ISR platform. The MARSS provides the commander with a multi-intelligence collection capability to accurately detect, identify, and report threat targets in near real-time. IMINT, COMINT and ELINT intercept capability. As of June 2010, 11 MARSS were created from outfitted Beechcraft King Air B-300 aircraft.


King Air 350-based variants

;C-12S: U.S. Army version based on the King Air 350, with seating for 8 to 15 passengers and quick cargo conversion capability. ;MC-12W:USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) role; originally 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs and ending with 42 350ERs (including one combat loss). In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan and globally for USSOCOM. All aircraft were transferred to USSOCOM, US Army, and other US government agencies by 2015. The
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
ordered 3 similar, if not, exact variants. ;UC-12W: U.S. Navy version based on the King Air 350 ;MC-12S (EMARSS-S): U.S. Army nomenclature for the modified MC-12W aircraft.
EMARSS The US Army is to modify a government-owned Quick Reaction Capability Liberty Project aircraft into an Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System - Multi-Intelligence (EMARSS-M) platform under a USD31.8 million contract it was ...


Beechcraft 1900-based variant

;C-12J: Used by the U.S. Air Force's
Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (fo ...
, and
Air Force Materiel Command Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force Systems Com ...
. It carries 2 crew and 19 passengers. The C-12J is based on the
Beechcraft 1900 The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop regional airliner manufactured by Beechcraft. It is also used as a freight aircraft and corporate transport, and by several governmental and military organizations. With c ...
C and carries the serials UD-1 through UD-6. The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at
Yokota Air Base , is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo. It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa. The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan and 1 by the
Air Force Materiel Command Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force Systems Com ...
from
Holloman AFB Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, and a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. ...
, New Mexico. The Army has C-12Js in use.


Special Military Variants

The following
RC-12 The Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail is an airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform based on the Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. While the US military and specifically the United States Army have numerous personnel transpo ...
variants, although similar to earlier RC-12's based on the KA-200, combined upgraded engines (1,100 shp PT6A-67) - up to as high as 16,500 lbs). ;
RC-12 The Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail is an airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform based on the Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. While the US military and specifically the United States Army have numerous personnel transpo ...
K: SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT, with PT-6A-67 engines driving four-bladed propellers and with increased ( max take-off weight. Fitted with ''Guardrail/Common Sensor System 4'' system. Nine built. ;RC-12N: SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT/C-12F airframe with PT-6A-67 engines driving four-bladed propellers and max take-off weight. Fitted with ''Guardrail/Common Sensor System 1'' system. 15 C-12Fs converted to this standard.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 95 ;RC-12P: SIGINT aircraft for US Army based on King Air A200CT/C-12F airframe with PT-6A-67 engines driving four-bladed propellers and max take-off weight. Fitted with ''Guardrail/Common Sensor System 2'' system. 9 built. ;RC-12Q: SIGINT aircraft for US Army, similar to RC-12P and with same ''Guardrail/Common Sensor System 2'' sensors, but with satellite communications antenna in dorsal radome. Three built.Kaminski ''International Air Power Review'' Spring 2004, p. 96 ;
RC-12 The Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail is an airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform based on the Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air. While the US military and specifically the United States Army have numerous personnel transpo ...
X, X+: Intelligence-gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the U.S. Army in January 2011. ''Note: The U.S. military also operates other
King Air The Beechcraft King Air is a line of American utility aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The King Air line comprises a number of twin-turboprop models that have been divided into two families. The Model 90 and 100 series developed in the 1960s ...
versions under other designations, including the C-6 Ute and T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations.''


Operators

; *
Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is the ...
; *
Israeli Air Force The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defense ...
; *
Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...
; *
Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy (PN) ( tgl, Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, , Sea Army of the Philippines) ( es, Armada de Filipinas, , Ejército del Mar de las Filipinas) is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an e ...
; *
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
*
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
*
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
*
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
*
NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
; *
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
to support Special Operations. ; * Fuerza Aerea Argentina - 10 announced to be purchased in February 2021.


Specifications (Beechcraft C-12 Huron)


See also


References

;Notes ;Bibliography * DoD 4120-15L, ''Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles'',
United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...
, 12 May 2004 * *


External links


C-12 on globalsecurity.org




* ttp://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/mc-liberty/ MC-12W Liberty ISR Aircraft, USA {{US transport aircraft
C-12 Huron The Beechcraft C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United ...
1980s United States military reconnaissance aircraft Signals intelligence 1980s United States military utility aircraft Low-wing aircraft T-tail aircraft Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft