Beechcraft 99 Airliner

Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1966 · airliner

The Beechcraft 99 Airliner is a twin-turboprop commuter airliner developed from the Queen Air piston twin, stretched to accommodate up to 15 passengers for short-haul regional routes. It became a staple of US commuter airline operations in the 1970s and 1980s.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Stretched Beech Queen Air fuselage with 15-passenger cabin
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Stretched Beech Queen Air fuselage with 15-passenger cabin
Twin PT6A turboprops on low straight wing
Ventral airstair entry door

Resembles a stretched Beech Queen Air with turboprop engines; distinguished from the King Air by the straight wing without the King Air's characteristic dihedral and by its longer, more angular fuselage.

Specifications

The Beechcraft 99 Airliner has a length of 13.58 m (45 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
Its maximum speed is 436 km/h (271 mph).
Typical crew: 1–2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Entering service in 1968, the Model 99 was designed specifically for the growing commuter airline market and was sold to numerous small regional carriers. Its PT6A turboprops gave reliable performance on short sectors with minimal maintenance.

Variants

Variants include the Model 99, 99A with more powerful engines, and 99A Executive for corporate use. The basic airframe was derived from the Queen Air 80 with an extended fuselage.

Where you'll see it

Widely used by US commuter airlines such as Air New England and regional operators globally; many examples continue in cargo and charter service in developing markets.

Related aircraft

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