Summary
- The C-12 Huron, used for embassy support & cargo transport, flown by 2 pilots, can carry 13 passengers.
- The USAF C-12 Huron was modified for surveillance duties & later replaced by General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers.
- Diverse military C-12 Huron variants like C-12J & UC-12B serve unique purposes; aircraft are constantly updated.
The military C-12 Huron, based on the twin-engine turboprop Beechcraft Super King Air and the Beechcraft 1900 regional airliner, may be unfamiliar to military aviation enthusiasts.
Found in all branches of the United States military, the C-12 Huron is used primarily for embassy support, medical evacuation, and passenger and light cargo transportation.
While you may not think about the United States Army when it comes to fixed-wing aircraft, you may be surprised to hear that the Army has more than any other branch of the United States military.
While used mainly for VIP transport duties, several C-12 Hurons have been modified for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), real-time reporting, and location targeting.
Flown by two pilots, the C-12 Huron can carry a maximum of 13 passengers or 5,000 pounds of cargo. Currently, 300 C-12 Hurons are in service with the United States military and are based at various locations around the globe.
The C-12 Huron is based on the Beechcraft Super King Air
Originally conceived as the Model 101 in 1969, the Beechcraft Super King Air featured a new T-tail instead of the 100’s conventional tail and more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines.
The first C-12A model entered service with the United States Army in 1974 and was used as a general-purpose passenger transport aircraft. The United States Navy followed suit, taking delivery of its first Super King Air A200Cs in 1979.
Besides being used for personal transport, the United States Air Force (USAF)was interested in using the C-12 Huron for surveillance duties. To meet its requirements, the USAF took an off-the-shelf Beechcraft Super King Air and sent it to L-3 Communications Missions Integration in Greenville, Texas.
While in Texas, it was fitted with sophisticated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment.
General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers have replaced Air Force C-12 Hurons
Now designated as the MC-12W Liberty, the aircraft was used as a
supplemental surveillance and signals intelligence asset. Since performing its first combat role in 2009, the USAF C-12 Huron has since been deployed in Iraq and used in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
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The C-12 Huron now plays a lesser role in intelligence and surveillance gathering following the introduction of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In 2014, the USAF decided to divest itself of the MC-12W Liberty, with the plane’s last combat mission occurring during Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2015. Following this, the USAF gave its MC-12Ws to the United States Army.
Variants of the United States military C-12 Huron
Since the C-12 Huron performed its maiden flight on 27 October 1972 before entering service with the United States military in 1974, technological advances and new avionics have continued to evolve the aircraft, as is evident in the many variants that have been manufactured.
C-12J
The United States Army ordered the C-12 Huron, based on the Beechcraft 1900C commuter airliner, as a transport aircraft for liaison and attachment transport.
UC-12B
Ordered by the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the UC-12B was the first aircraft variant to be fitted with a 52 x 52-inch cargo door with built-in airstairs. The large door was necessary to load and unload standard United States military pallets quickly.
Thanks to the cargo door, high-value and time-sensitive cargo can be delivered to and from small airstrips with limited services anywhere in the world.
C-12D
The Army’s C-12D, based on the King Air A200CT, is the most common variant of the C-12 Huron still in service. Because its passenger seats were easy to remove, the Army added a cargo door to the aircraft and reinforced flotation landing gear to allow the plane to operate from remote airstrips.
Another improvement was wingtip fuel tanks that gave the plane a range of 2,000 nautical miles, allowing it to transport critical cargo to the remotest of places.
Special Military Variants of the C-12 Huron
Thanks to the aircraft’s rugged and adaptable airframe, the C-12 Huron is an ideal aircraft that can be used in all environments. Of the military variants, the most well-known is the Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail, an airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection platform used by the United States Army.
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The design and features of the American military C-12 Huron
Regardless of all the different variants, the C-12 Huron remains a twin-engine turboprop that is flown by two pilots. The basic cabin design features a single aisle with one parallel seat on either side of the cabin.
Throughout its history, the C-12 Huron has been constantly updated with improved avionics, with the latest aircraft equipped with a Rockwell-Collins FMS-3000 flight management system, two GPS-4000As, and an ADC-3000 air data computer.
Current operators of the C-12 Huron:
- Argentinian Air Force and Navy
- Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
- Greek Army
- Israeli Air Force (IAF)
- Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
- Philippine Navy
- United States Air Force (USAF)
- United States Army (USA)
- United States Marine Corps (USMC)
- United States Navy (USN)
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Specifications and general characteristics of the Beechcraft C-12 Huron
Crew |
2 |
Capacity |
13 passengers |
Length |
43 feet 9 inches |
Wingspan |
54 feet 6 inches |
Height |
15 feet |
Wing Area |
303 square feet |
Empty Weight |
7,755 lbs |
MTOW |
12,500 lbs |
Fuel Capacity |
675.2 US gallons |
Powerplant |
2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines, 850 shp (630 kW) each |
Propellers |
4-bladed constant-speed propellers |
Performance of the Beechcraft C-12 Huron
Maximum Speed |
333mph |
Range |
1,670 miles |
Ferry Range |
2,100 miles |
Service Ceiling |
35,000 feet |
Rate of Climb |
2,450 feet per minute |
Wing Loading |
41.3 pounds per square feet |
Power/Mass |
0.14 hp/lb (0.23 kW/kg) |