Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

The Beechcraft AT‑11 Kansan was a twin‑engine advanced trainer produced by Beech Aircraft Corporation after World War II. Developed from the civilian Model 18 Staggerwing and the military AT‑9, the AT‑11 entered service in 1942 as a navigation and bombardier trainer for the United States Army Air Forces. Approximately 1,300 aircraft were built before production ended in 1945. The Kansan featured a low‑wing, all‑metal airframe, twin 600‑hp Pratt & Whitney R‑985 radial engines, and a spacious cockpit that could accommodate an instructor, pilot trainee, bombardier, radio operator and a navigator. Its most distinctive element was the large, glass‑filled nose compartment, which housed a functional bombardier station equipped with a Norden Mk 2 bombsight, a flight‑training radar, and a bomb‑release mechanism, allowing crews to practice real‑world bombing runs and radio‑navigation procedures. The AT‑11’s robust design, forgiving handling characteristics, and realistic combat‑training equipment made it a cornerstone of U.S. pilot instruction during the war and in the early jet era. After military service, many Kansans were converted to civilian cargo and executive transports, cementing their legacy as versatile workhorses that helped shape modern flight‑training doctrine. The aircraft remains a popular museum piece today.

Beechcraft

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification