A Model Beech D18S with Beech c/n A

1164 US Army
G -BKG L
Beechcraft 18 3TM
c/n CA-164 ex CF-QPD, RCAF 5193, RCAF 1564
A Model Beech D18S with Beech c/n A-764 and built at Wichita for the RCAF as a 3TM Expeditor with their
c/n CA-164. Taken on charge 29.04.52 by Air Defence Command with serial RCAF 1564 (duplication of an
earlier Lysander serial) & delivered to Chatham, New Brunswick 06.05.52. To Bristol in Winnipeg for
reconditioning, and then reissued 03.03.58 to No. 104 (Comm) Flight at St. Hubert, PQ. At Bristol for
reupholstery on 12.04.66. Still with No. 104 (K) Unit at St. Hubert when it transferred to Mobile Command on
16.09.66. To No. 3 Flying Training School at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on 31.10.66. To Bristol Aerospace
for magnetic particle inspection and spar reinforcement, returning to No. 3 FTS on 18.05.67. Still with this school
when renumbered in Canadian Forces system with serial 5193 on 28.07.67. To CFB Borden, Ontario on
14.12.67, returning to No. 3 FTS at Portage on 05.02.68. Pending disposal at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from
05.02.70. Declared surplus by Crown Assets 17.02.71 and sold 19.02.71 to Giltaur Corporation Ltd., Montreal.
Regd 02.05.71 to Giltaur Space Research Corporation. Re-Regd 19.10.72 to Capital Air Surveys, Pembroke,
Ontario. Operated in an overall all-red scheme they used it, with others of their fleet, for extensive aerial survey
activities. As CF-QPD, it routed Reykjavik-Shannon 26.06.80 and onto Perpignan the next day (in company with
C-FCWP & CF-SUQ). However, during the return flight from Africa the Company ceased trading. On 04.08.81
CF-QPD (this time together with CF-DTN & CF-SUQ) arrived at Prestwick and remained in open storage while
the various creditors of Capital Air Surveys negotiated onward sale of their assets. Ferried to Duxford 05.07.82.
Canadian CofR Cld 13.07.82.
Regd 14.07.82 (CofR No: G-BKGL/R1) as G-BK GL to Graham Arthur Warner t/a Aircraft Restoration Co.,
Duxford. Originally Graham Warner and his British Aerial Museum team had intended that the Beech 18 would
act as a support aircraft and twin pilot trainer for the Blenheim projects and CF-SUQ, which was acquired from
Prestwick at the same time, would be a potential spares source. In the event, the latter, having become G-BKGM,
was sold on to Anthony Hutton. G-BKGL was stripped down to bare metal and entirely overhauled, including the
replacement of the square wing-tips, and repainted in dark blue US Navy colours with 164 on fin and used as a
display item as well as a twin trainer from 1983 up to 1988. During 1989 it was decided to overhaul it again and
this time it emerged in the USAAC scheme with serial 1164. Re-Regd 09.08.99 (CofR No: G-BKGL/R2) to
Propshop Ltd & A Tim J Darrah, Duxford and became part of the Radial Revelations team including Martin
Willing and his T-28. Re-Regd 03.04.02 (CofR No: G-BKGL/R3) to A Tim J Darrah, Duxford. Current Marks
Exemption issued 15.03.11 to fly as USAAC 1164/64 valid to 30.04.14. This represents an AT-7 Navigational
trainer with USAAC serial 41-1164 that was transferred to the USN on 07.02.46.
[With thanks to Michael Ody for much of the Canadian military data]