The Be-99
02-12-2009, 08:17 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: BE-50 Left
Posts: 35
The Be-99
The other night I saw a Freight Runners Be-99 takeoff in what I swear was well less than 1,000ft. I didn't really realize that these old birds were 'rocket ships' per se.
Was I seeing things? If not, are they really a joy to fly single-pilot?
Was I seeing things? If not, are they really a joy to fly single-pilot?
02-12-2009, 11:21 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: 'Bus Driver Right Seat
Posts: 523
Originally Posted by CLRDDIRECT
The other night I saw a Freight Runners Be-99 takeoff in what I swear was well less than 1,000ft. I didn't really realize that these old birds were 'rocket ships' per se.
Was I seeing things? If not, are they really a joy to fly single-pilot?
Was I seeing things? If not, are they really a joy to fly single-pilot?
02-12-2009, 12:33 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2007
Position: single pilot cargo, turboprop
Posts: 484
Get it light, with a low density altitiude, and 1000 foot takeoff roll is achievable.
Just as fun is getting the thing to drop like a lawn dart. Crossing a mountain 8000 feet above field elevation at 15 miles out, you can still get a stabilized approach by a 3 mile final.
On the other hand, like a King Air pilot I used to fly with said "whatever you're flying in, it'll never be fast enough." I definitely feel that way about the cruise performance of the BE99.
Just as fun is getting the thing to drop like a lawn dart. Crossing a mountain 8000 feet above field elevation at 15 miles out, you can still get a stabilized approach by a 3 mile final.
On the other hand, like a King Air pilot I used to fly with said "whatever you're flying in, it'll never be fast enough." I definitely feel that way about the cruise performance of the BE99.
02-15-2009, 08:07 AM
#5
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: ATP, CFII, MEI, Chief Flight Instructor, Charter Captain CE402, CE421, BE58
Posts: 80
I think it depends on what engines you got on it. We had 4, 2 had PT6-20's and we had 2 with the PT6-27/28. The first 2 were dogs and the latter were pretty awesome. Overall pretty damn fun airplane to fly. No autopilot so it's hard to fall asleep. You could definatley bring them down too. I flew one for the last six months of my freight dogging job and got a jet job and went to Flight Safety and I think it definately gave me an advantage, with doing all that hand flying and all.
