C-12 Huron
Encyclopedia
The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop
aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air
and Beechcraft 1900
. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force
, United States Army
, United States Navy
and United States Marine Corps
. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer, Guardrail and Project Liberty programs.
A-41 engines.
The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC-12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS
and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter
patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft.
C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for GPS
jamming
tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base
, New Mexico
. Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base
, Alaska
. Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base
, South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron
, Yokota Air Base
, Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation.
Although the UD- series 1900s were manufactured exclusively for military use, the United States military and other military and government organizations use 1900s from other series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere.
C-12A : Used by the US Army for liaison and attache transport. Based on the King Air A200 (serial numbers BC-1 through BC-61, BD-1 and up).
UC-12B : US Navy/US Marine Corps version with an additional cargo door. Based on the King Air A200C (serial numbers BJ-1 and up).
NC-12B : US Navy single-aircraft version, UC-12B BuNo 161311 equipped with four P-3C
type Sonobuoy
launchers.
TC-12B : US Navy training version developed by conversion of UC-12B airframes.
C-12C : US Army and US Air Force version of the C-12A with upgraded engines. Based on the King Air A200 (serial numbers BC-62 and up).
C-12D : US Army and US Air Force version. Based on the King Air A200CT, changes include larger cargo door, "high-flotation" landing gear (a Beechcraft option for larger main landing gear wheels for use on unimproved runways) (serial numbers BP-1, BP-22, BP-24 through BP-51).
RC-12D : Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
UC-12D : Based on the King Air A200CT (serial numbers BP-7 though BP-11).
C-12E : Upgraded C-12A aircraft for the USAF. 29 C-12As were retro-fitted with two Pratt & Whitney canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines.
C-12F : US Air Force transport version. Based on the King Air A200CF (serial numbers BP-52 through BP-63) and the King Air B200C (serial numbers BP-64 and up).
RC-12F : US Navy version of the UC-12F modified with surface search radar
.
UC-12F : US Navy version based on the King Air B200C (serial number BU-1 and up, BV-1 and up, BW-1 and up).
RC-12G : US Army version used for real-time tactical intelligence support under the Crazyhorse program. Based on the King Air A200CT (three aircraft, serial numbers FC-1 and up). Previously operated by US Army Reserve aviation units.
RC-12H : Special mission, battlefield SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
C-12L : Three A200s acquired for use in the Cefly Lancer program as RU-21Js. In 1984 the three aircraft modified with new VIP interiors, and returned to the US Army as C-12Ls.
UC-12M : US Navy UC-12B and UC-12F aircraft with upgraded cockpit instrumentation.
RC-12M : US Navy RC-12F with upgraded cockpit instrumentation, plus other systems and structural upgrades.
C-12R : Off the shelf BE200 modified with EFIS glass cockpit
instrumentation.
C-12T : Upgrade of earlier US Army C-12F versions with improved cockpit instrumentation.
C-12U : Upgrade of US Army C-12T versions with improved cockpit instrumentation in order to meet global air traffic management directives.
RU-21J : Special mission, battlefield ELINT aircraft. Three A200s were brought by the US Army for use in the Cefly Lancer program in the early 1970s.
RC-12X: Intelligence-gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the US Army in January 2011.
C-12V : Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS, currently used exclusively in Iraq and Afghanistan
MC-12W Liberty: USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance
(ISR) role; 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs on order. In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan. The USAF intends to integrate Gorgon stare
video capturing technology into the aircraft.
UC-12W : US Navy version based on the King Air 350
C and carries the serials UD-1 through UD-6.
The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron
at Yokota Air Base
, Japan and 1 by the Air Force Material Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The Army has 2 C-12Js in use, 1 in Korea and 1 in Germany.
Note: The U.S. military also operates other King Air
versions under other designations, including the C-6 Ute and T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations.
Greece
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
and Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including the Cefly Lancer, Guardrail and Project Liberty programs.
Design and development
The first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and was used as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is one of the most popular turboprop aircraft engines in history, and is produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The PT6 family is particularly well known for its extremely high reliability, with MTBO's on the order of 9000 hours in some models. In US military use, they...
A-41 engines.
The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering a version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC-12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS
Conus
Conus is a large genus of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs, with the common names of cone snails, cone shells or cones. This genus is placed in the subfamily Coninae within the family Conidae. Geologically speaking, the genus is known from the Eocene to the Recent ...
and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter
Litter (rescue basket)
A litter is a stretcher or basket designed to be used where there are obstacles to movement or other hazards: for example, in confined spaces, on slopes, in wooded terrain. Typically it is shaped to accommodate an adult in a face up position and it is used in search and rescue operations. The...
patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982, the Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft.
C-12J
To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six C-12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
jamming
Radio jamming
Radio jamming is the transmission of radio signals that disrupt communications by decreasing the signal to noise ratio. Unintentional jamming occurs when an operator transmits on a busy frequency without first checking whether it is in use, or without being able to hear stations using the frequency...
tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron
459th Airlift Squadron
The 459th Airlift Squadron is part of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It operates UH-1 Iroquois and C-12J Huron aircraft providing aeromedical evacuation and search and rescue missions.-History:...
, Yokota Air Base
Yokota Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
, Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation.
Although the UD- series 1900s were manufactured exclusively for military use, the United States military and other military and government organizations use 1900s from other series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere.
King Air 200-based variants
UC-12B : US Navy/US Marine Corps version with an additional cargo door. Based on the King Air A200C (serial numbers BJ-1 and up).
NC-12B : US Navy single-aircraft version, UC-12B BuNo 161311 equipped with four P-3C
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
type Sonobuoy
Sonobuoy
A sonobuoy is a relatively small expendable sonar system that is dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic research....
launchers.
TC-12B : US Navy training version developed by conversion of UC-12B airframes.
C-12C : US Army and US Air Force version of the C-12A with upgraded engines. Based on the King Air A200 (serial numbers BC-62 and up).
C-12D : US Army and US Air Force version. Based on the King Air A200CT, changes include larger cargo door, "high-flotation" landing gear (a Beechcraft option for larger main landing gear wheels for use on unimproved runways) (serial numbers BP-1, BP-22, BP-24 through BP-51).
RC-12D : Special mission, SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
UC-12D : Based on the King Air A200CT (serial numbers BP-7 though BP-11).
C-12E : Upgraded C-12A aircraft for the USAF. 29 C-12As were retro-fitted with two Pratt & Whitney canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines.
C-12F : US Air Force transport version. Based on the King Air A200CF (serial numbers BP-52 through BP-63) and the King Air B200C (serial numbers BP-64 and up).
RC-12F : US Navy version of the UC-12F modified with surface search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
.
UC-12F : US Navy version based on the King Air B200C (serial number BU-1 and up, BV-1 and up, BW-1 and up).
RC-12G : US Army version used for real-time tactical intelligence support under the Crazyhorse program. Based on the King Air A200CT (three aircraft, serial numbers FC-1 and up). Previously operated by US Army Reserve aviation units.
RC-12H : Special mission, battlefield SIGINT aircraft for the US Army.
C-12L : Three A200s acquired for use in the Cefly Lancer program as RU-21Js. In 1984 the three aircraft modified with new VIP interiors, and returned to the US Army as C-12Ls.
UC-12M : US Navy UC-12B and UC-12F aircraft with upgraded cockpit instrumentation.
RC-12M : US Navy RC-12F with upgraded cockpit instrumentation, plus other systems and structural upgrades.
C-12R : Off the shelf BE200 modified with EFIS glass cockpit
Glass cockpit
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays, typically large LCD screens, as opposed to the traditional style of analog dials and gauges...
instrumentation.
C-12T : Upgrade of earlier US Army C-12F versions with improved cockpit instrumentation.
C-12U : Upgrade of US Army C-12T versions with improved cockpit instrumentation in order to meet global air traffic management directives.
RU-21J : Special mission, battlefield ELINT aircraft. Three A200s were brought by the US Army for use in the Cefly Lancer program in the early 1970s.
RC-12X: Intelligence-gathering platform. 14 ordered, the first delivered to the US Army in January 2011.
C-12V : Upgraded C-12R with Proline 21 FMS, currently used exclusively in Iraq and Afghanistan
King Air 350-based variants
C-12S : US Army version based on the King Air 350, with seating for 8 to 15 passengers and quick cargo conversion capability.MC-12W Liberty: USAF version modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance
ISTAR
ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.Information is collected on...
(ISR) role; 8 King Air 350s and 29 King Air 350ERs on order. In service since June 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan. The USAF intends to integrate Gorgon stare
Gorgon Stare
Gorgon Stare is the name given to a new video capture technology developed by the United States military. It is a spherical array of nine cameras attached to an aerial drone...
video capturing technology into the aircraft.
UC-12W : US Navy version based on the King Air 350
Beechcraft 1900-based variant
C-12J : Used by the US Air Force's Pacific Air Forces, and Air Force Material Command. It carries 2 crew and 19 passengers. The C-12J is based on the Beechcraft 1900Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
C and carries the serials UD-1 through UD-6.
The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron
459th Airlift Squadron
The 459th Airlift Squadron is part of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It operates UH-1 Iroquois and C-12J Huron aircraft providing aeromedical evacuation and search and rescue missions.-History:...
at Yokota Air Base
Yokota Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
, Japan and 1 by the Air Force Material Command from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The Army has 2 C-12Js in use, 1 in Korea and 1 in Germany.
Note: The U.S. military also operates other King Air
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
versions under other designations, including the C-6 Ute and T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations.
Operators
USA- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
- United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
- United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
- United States National GuardUnited States National GuardThe National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
Greece
- Hellenic ArmyHellenic ArmyThe Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
Specifications (King Air B200)