SNB

The Beechcraft SN B is the United States Navy’s designation for the Model 18 twin‑engine aircraft built by Beechcraft from the late 1930s through the 1970s. First delivered in 1939 as a civilian business‑class transport, the airframe was quickly adapted for military service, where it appeared as the UC‑45, JRB, and finally the SN B when the Navy required a reliable trainer, liaison and light transport. Over 4 500 Model 18s were produced, and more than 400 were transferred to Navy and Marine Corps units, serving throughout World War II, the Korean War and into the early Cold War. Key features include a low‑wing monoplane layout, all‑metal construction, and two horizontally opposed Pratt & Whitney R‑985 or Jacobs R‑755 radial engines delivering 450 hp each. The cockpit offers a spacious, dual‑control cabin with large windows that give excellent visibility for pilot training, while the generous cargo door and reinforced floor allow rapid conversion to medevac, cargo or passenger roles. The SN B’s durability, simple maintenance and forgiving flight characteristics made it a workhorse of naval aviation, shaping multi‑role liaison doctrine and influencing later twin‑engine trainers worldwide. Its legacy endures in modern naval training fleets and in the continued popularity of the Model 18 among civilian collectors.