Beechcraft Duchess

infobox Aircraft
name = Model 76 Duchess

---

caption =
type = Four-seat cabin monoplane
manufacturer = Beechcraft
first flight = September 1974Green, William: "Observers Aircraft", page 48. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1980. ISBN 0 7232 1604 5]
introduction = 1978
retired =
status =
primary user = Flight schools
more users =
produced =
number built = 437
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess is an American twin-engined monoplane built by Beechcraft.

The Duchess is a cantilever low-wing monoplane with an all metal structure, four seats, retractable tricycle undercarriage and a T-tail. It is powered by two 180hp (134kW) Lycoming O-360-A1G6D flat-four piston engines, which drive counter-rotating, constant-speed two-bladed propellers. [cite book |last= Frawley|first= Gerard|title=The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004 |year=2003 |publisher=Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd |location= Fyshwick, ACT, Australia |isbn=1-875671-58-7 |pages=41 ]

Development

The Duchess was developed by Beechcraft from the single-engined Beechcraft Musketeer.

The prototype was first flown in September 1974 with the first production version flown on 24 May 1977. Deliveries to the Beech Aero Centers commenced early in 1978.

The Model 76 was designed as an economical twin-engine trainer for the Beech Aero Centers and to compete with the very similar Piper PA-44 Seminole as well as the Cessna 310.

The Model 76 incorporates engines that turn in different directions to eliminate the critical engine from single engine operation.Plane and Pilot: "1978 Aircraft Directory", page 84. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0]

The Duchess wing is of honeycomb construction fastened by bonding, rather than rivets, to reduce cost and produce a smoother aerodynamic surface.

The Duchess is no longer in production but large numbers remain in use in flight schools around the world.

T-tail

The use of a T-tail on the Model 76 met with mixed critical reception when the aircraft was introduced. Plane & Pilot pronounced:

while Gerald Foster said:

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Green, William: "Observers Aircraft", page 48. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1980. ISBN 0 7232 1604 5
crew=1
capacity=3 passengers
payload main=854 lb.
payload alt=387.3 kg.
length main=29ft. 1in.
length alt=8.85 m
span main=38ft.
span alt=11.58 m
height main=9ft. 6in.
height alt=2.89 m
area main=181 ft²
area alt= 16.8 m²
airfoil= Root NACA 63A413.2 Tip NACA 63A415 cite web|url = http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 2008-07-27|last = Lednicer|first = David|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = October]
empty weight main=2446 lb.
empty weight alt= 1100 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=1454 lb.
useful load alt= 659.5 kg
max takeoff weight main= 3900 lb.
max takeoff weight alt= 1780 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Lycoming O-360-A1G6D
type of prop=
number of props=2
power main= 180 hp
power alt= 135 kW
power original=
max speed main= 171 knots
max speed alt= 197 mph
cruise speed main= 165 knots
cruise speed alt= 190 mph
stall speed main=60 KIAS VSo
stall speed alt=70 KIAS VS1
never exceed speed main= 194 KIAS
never exceed speed alt= 225.5 mph
range main= 932 NM
range alt=1072.5 miles
ceiling main= 19,400 ft.
ceiling alt= 4 876.8 m
climb rate main= 1248 ft./min.
climb rate alt= 380.4 m/min.
loading main=21.6 lb/sq ft
loading alt=106.0 kg/sq m
thrust/weight=
mass/power main=10.83 lb/hp
power/mass alt=152 W/kg
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Beechcraft Musketeer
similar aircraft=
* Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar
* Piper Seminole
see also=

References

*
*

External links

* [http://www.beechaeroclub.org Beech Aero Club] (Owners and Pilots Association)