This 1957 Beechcraft E18S Is a Nearly Timeless ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

1957 Beechcraft E18S [Courtesy: Christopher Sluka]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1957 Beechcraft E18S.

The 1963 comedy adventure film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is packed with character actors such as Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Jim Backus, and Phil Silvers. And let’s not forget the Beechcraft Model 18 that steals the show by flying cleanly through a billboard.

Like the actors, the “Twin Beech” aircraft has been showing up on screens large and small since at least the middle of the last century. Part of the reason, I suspect, is because it also plays a range of roles very well.

In real life the aircraft was produced from 1937-69, but even today it looks wonderful if not quite modern (those big round engines date the old bird).

Thousands were built and many are still flying. Sure, they turn up at vintage fly-ins and in the collections of well-heeled aircraft enthusiasts. But pilots also continue to use them as personal mounts because they remain effective for certain passenger, cargo, and utility missions.

In their heyday these airplanes, often in their polished aluminum glory, were popular and prestigious executive transports. If you want to carry from six to 11 passengers today while enjoying a mechanical, highly interactive version of pilotage, this Model 18 could be your next hangar occupant.

This 1957 Twin Beech has 9,615 hours on the airframe, 327 hours since overhaul on the 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine on the left side and 492 hours since overhaul on the right. The aircraft has eight seats and was painted in 2023.

The IFR panel includes a Garmin GNS 530 GPS/nav/comm, a King KX 155 nav/comm, a transponder with ADS-B and an intercom along with a full complement of traditional analog engine and flight instruments.

Pilots who have an affection for vintage iron and often carry loads that are slightly beyond the capacity of typical light twins should take a look at this 1957 Beechcraft E18S, which is available for $199,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.