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Beechcraft Duchess
The Beechcraft 76 Duchess was a twin-engine development of the Beechcraft Musketeer, and was designed as an economical twin-engine trainer to compete with the successful Piper Seminole. By sheer coincidence, and in accordance to the "form follows function" rule, the two aircraft appear to be nearly identical. The Duchess was equipped with the same 180-hp Lycoming engines as the Seminole. Due to the relatively low-powered engines, and the rather heavy construction of the Duchess, many student pilots find that the aircraft is under-powered and as a result a challenging trainer, especially for engine-out training. This has lead to the derogatory epithet "Gutless Duchess" being applied to the aircraft.
Unlike the Seminole, which is still being produced today, the Duchess is no longer in production. Large numbers remain in use in flight schools around the world.
Specifications (BE-76)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Payload: 854 lbs. (387.3 kg.)
- Length: 29ft. 1in. (8.85 m)
- Wingspan: 38ft. (11.58 m)
- Height: 9ft. 6in. (2.89 m)
- Wing area: 181 ft2 (16.8 m2)
- Empty weight: 2446 lbs. (1100 kg)
- Useful load: 1454 ft. (659.5 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3900 lbs. (1780 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Lycoming O-360-A1G6D Hartzell HC-M2YR-2CEUF-FC7666A 2-blade, 180 hp (135 kW) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 194 KIAS (225.5 mph)
- Maximum speed: 194 KIAS (225.5 mph)
- Range: 932 NM (1072.5 miles)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 ft. (4 876.8 m)
- Rate of climb: 1248 ft./min. (380.4 m/min.)
- Power/mass: 0.092 hp/lb. (0.152 kW/kg)
External link
- Beech Aero Club (Owners and Pilots Association)
Related content
Related development: Beechcraft Musketeer
Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence: 65 - 70 - 73 - 76 - 77 - 80 - 88
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