Bubakův popis je velmi podrobný. I v Encyklopedii letadel světa ISBN 80-7181-230-7 -1999, je tomuto typu věnována značná část (str.95-96).

"A Tradewind is a converted Beech 18, though on first look doesn't give it the nice impression of the 18... According to the FAA N125MB is a Beech C-45H with serial AF-286 (manufactured in 1942. Its certification as a Turbo-Prop engined aircraft seems strange as the round engines seem obvious."
It was registered (Certificate Issue Date) on 26Sep97 to Clifford A Smith of Titusville,FL.



Apparently this aircraft is for sale on www.aviationclassifieds.com for usd 120.000 and is described as a by PAC Pacific AirMotive converted Tri-Gear Volpar (low time Air-Frame under 7,000 hrs 250 SMOH Engines & all accessoires included)
By googling I came across this info:
The Ugly Duckling...
In 1960, the Volitan and Parigon Corporations joined forces to form Volpar Inc. Volpar went into the business of converting standard Beech 18's to tricycle gear versions. Their conversion was successful and Beechcraft itself began installing tricycle gear based on the Volpar design. Volpar also began retrofitting various engines to the Beech and later versions included the Volpar "Super 18" and the "Turboliner", both of which were powered by 500 - 750hp Garret Turbine engines.
The tricycle gear conversion to the Model 18 gave the aircraft significantly better ground handling characteristics. Because the aircraft was now close to its in-flight attitude while sitting on the ground, a new doorway with integrated stairs was made to assist ingress and egress. It also meant greater passenger comfort while boarding and during ground maneuvers as the aircraft's floor was no longer on an incline, but level with the ground.
Volpar and Beechcraft modified other aspects of the aircraft as well. Improvements included such touches as increasing the head room by raising the headliner, adding "picture glass" windows and making the windscreen more upright. Its nose was also further lengthened to accommodate the new nose gear. All of these changes succeeded in extending the life and usability of the aircraft.
Source: www.ascendant-online.net/beech_history

Through the Beech 18 forum I received following additional information: "The Tradewind was a single tailed conversion done by PAC, Pacific Aeromotive Corporation. They used a horizontal stabilizer to create the vertical fin. It also had tri gear. Only a few were made. The tail mod didn't do much for the airplane but add a lot of weight as the structure had to be beefed up considerably. Beech wasnt involved."

Vážně se mi nehce věřit, že je tup z rok 1942. Snad ty motoy.

Podle Wikipedie en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_18 bych řekl, že je to úplně jiné letadlo :)
Ale jinak je to moc pěkné...

Ty motory jsou vážně neskutečný... Hezké

Trup bych tipoval aspon tak na 1972.

Jestli byl v roce 1942 postaven i trup tak vypadá neuvěřitelně nadčasově...