Beechcraft RC-12K
Beechcraft RC-12K Guardrail
This aircraft is not currently on public display.
The Beechcraft C-12 is a part of the company’s King Air family of mid-sized turboprop powered civil aircraft. It has been used by all branches of the U.S. military. The King Air was introduced by Beechcraft in 1964 with the slightly redesigned Model 200 Super King Air going on sale in 1974. The King Air is one of the most successful aircraft in its class and has remained in production continuously since its introduction in 1964. The C-12 is the military designation for the Model 200. The RC-12K is a signals intelligence aircraft designed to intercept adversary’s communications. The system was introduced in the early 1980s. Several versions of the Guardrail system have been used in the years since. The RC-12K was introduced in 1985 and featured more powerful engines allowing an increased take-off weight. A total of nine aircraft were produced for the U.S. Army and two for Israel.
| Wingspan | 54 ft 6 in. |
Wingspan |
| Length | 43 ft 9 in. |
Length |
| Height | 15 ft |
Height |
| Weight | 16,000 lbs (loaded) |
Weight |
| Max. Speed | 283 MPH |
Maximum Speed |
| Service Ceiling | 35,000 ft |
Service Ceiling |
| Range | 2,075 miles |
Range |
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67 turboprops with 1100 horsepower each |
Engines |
| Crew | 2 |
Crew |
Manufacturer
Beechcraft
Markings
U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany
Serial Number
85-0148
Designation
RC-12K