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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, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. These aircraft are used for embassy support and medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for missions including the Cefly Lancer, Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail and Project Liberty programs.
Originally designated U-25A,[2] 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 PT6A-41 engines.[3]
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 and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft.[3]
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 where sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment was installed by L-3 Communications Missions Integration.[4] As of 2013 the Liberty program had exceeded 300,000 combat flying hours.[5] The MC-12W was rushed into combat as a supplemental surveillance and signals intelligence 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 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, which was completed by October 2015.[6] The Air Force's final MC-12W deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ended on 13 October 2015.[7]
The TC-12B Huron was a twin-engine, pressurized version of the Beechcraft Super King Air 200. Twenty-five served with the U.S. Navy with Training Squadron 35 (VT-35), the Navy's only TC-12B Huron squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, home of the Training Air Wing 4 (TAW-4). The TC-12B was acquired to accommodate an increased multi-engine pilot training requirement when the USAF began sending C-130 track student pilots to the Navy for advanced training. Command of VT-35 alternated between a Navy Commander and a USAF Lt. Col and instructors of both services staffed the squadron. The Navy retired the TC-12B aircraft on 16 May 2017 after the USAF ceased sending student pilots eliminating the need for the TC-12B as the Navy's fleet of T-44C aircraft was sufficient to meet the USN, USMC and USCG multi engine pilot training need.[8]
The UC-12F and UC-12M are light passenger and cargo airlift versions procured for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1986 and 1987 respectively. They are based on the Super King Air 200, use PT6A-42 engines, and have a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 13,500 lb (6,100 kg). They are configured as combi aircraft and are also used for multi-engine training and testing.[9]
To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six C-12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for GPSjamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.[10] Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.[11] Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation.[12]
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.[12]
The UC-12W is an improved version of the UC-12F/M for the Marine Corps procured from 2010 for the same missions. It is based on the Super King Air 350, uses PT6A-60A engines, and has an MTOW of 16,500 lb (7,500 kg).[9] According to its 2022 Marine Aviation Plan, United States Marine Corps Aviation plans to phase out the Model 200-based UC-12F and UC-12M along with the Cessna UC-35D and replace them with new UC-12Ws by 2032.[13]
The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan and 1 by the Air Force Materiel Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The Army has C-12Js in use.
The following RC-12 variants, although similar to earlier RC-12s based on the King Air 200, represent specially built airframes that combined upgraded engines (1,100 shp PT6A-67) and structural upgrades (swapping the traditional KA-200/300/350 T-Tail for the 1900 modified T-Tail to compensate for torque and aerodynamics and having reinforced spars to compensate for the increased maximum gross weight - up to as high as 16,500 lbs).
Note: The U.S. military also operates other King Air 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.
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2005-2006[34]
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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
