Swearingen SA226-T Merlin III
Swearingen · United States · first flew 1970 · light aircraft
The Swearingen SA226-T Merlin III was a pressurised twin-turboprop executive transport developed from the Beechcraft Queen Air airframe by Ed Swearingen, offering high cruise speed and altitude capability for small corporate operators. It became the basis for the Fairchild Metro commuter airliner.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-turboprop executive transport with T-tail
- Garrett TPE331 engines in low-wing nacelles
- Pressurised cabin with oval windows and swept fin
The compact low-wing twin-turboprop layout, T-tail, Garrett TPE331 engines with their distinctive inward-curving exhausts, and the pressurised oval-windowed fuselage with swept fin distinguish it from the contemporaneous Beechcraft King Air series.
Specifications
- The Swearingen SA226-T Merlin III has a length of 12.85 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.1 m (46 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ed Swearingen began modifying Beechcraft Queen Airs into high-performance turboprop transports in the mid-1960s, eventually producing the clean-sheet Merlin III with Garrett AiResearch TPE331 engines. Fairchild Industries acquired Swearingen in 1971, and subsequent versions were marketed as Fairchild Swearingen products.
Variants
The Merlin IIA was an earlier, less refined variant; the Merlin III introduced a new fuselage cross-section and pressurisation; the Merlin IIIA had minor improvements; the related Metro used the same basic fuselage stretched for 19-passenger commuter service.
Where you'll see it
Merlin IIIs served with corporate operators and charter companies across North America, Europe and Australasia, with many examples remaining airworthy for freight and charter operations decades after production ended.
Related aircraft
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