Editing Beechcraft Musketeer

{{Short description|Family of light single engine aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Musketeer
 |image= BeechcraftA23MusketeerC-FSJL.jpg
 |caption= Beechcraft A23 Musketeer
 |type= Light personal and [[trainer aircraft]]
 |manufacturer= [[Beechcraft|Beech Aircraft Corporation]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=23 October 1961<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pelletier |first1=A.J. |title=Beech Aircraft and Their Predecessors |date=1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-062-2 |page=130}}</ref>
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=
 |more_users=
 |produced= 1963–1983
 |number_built= 4,366
 |variants=[[Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeer]]
 |developed_into= [[Beechcraft Duchess]]
}}
[[File:CC-DJC (beechcraft 180 sundowner).jpg|thumb|A Beechcraft 180 Sundowner]]

The '''Beechcraft Musketeer''' is a family of single-engined, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by [[Beechcraft]]. The line includes the '''Model 19 Musketeer Sport''', the '''Model 23 Musketeer''', '''Custom''' and '''Sundowner''', the '''Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III,''' the retractable gear '''Model 24R Sierra''' and the military [[CT-134 Musketeer]].

The Musketeer line was in production from model years 1963 to 1983, during which time a total of 4,366 were produced.<ref name="Bluebook">Aircraft Bluebook Spring 2006 Edition Penton Media, Overland Park, KS USA</ref> The [[type certificate]] for the Musketeer family of aircraft has been owned by [[Hawker Beechcraft]] since March 26, 2007.<ref name="A1CE">{{cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/d6d7f399f6281d2886257385006956a0/$FILE/A1CE.pdf|title = TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET A1CE Revision 35|access-date = March 30, 2010|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = March 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608055812/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/d6d7f399f6281d2886257385006956a0/$FILE/A1CE.pdf|archive-date = June 8, 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Development==

===Model 23 Musketeer and Custom===

The first of the line was the Model 23. It was introduced under the "Musketeer" name as a 1963 model at an initial price of $13,300 and was powered by a [[Lycoming O-320]]-D2B engine of {{convert|160|bhp|abbr=on}}. The next year this engine was replaced by the [[Continental IO-346]]-A engine of {{convert|165|bhp|abbr=on}}. This engine was not a success and was in turn replaced by the [[Lycoming O-360]]-A4J engine of {{convert|180|bhp|abbr=on}} starting with the B23 Musketeer Custom of 1968. In 1970 the C23 version was introduced also under the name "Musketeer Custom". In 1972 the C23 was renamed the "Sundowner". When properly equipped, the B23 and C23 are approved for limited [[aerobatics]].<ref name="Bluebook"/>

A total of 2,331 Beechcraft 23s of all variants were manufactured by the time production was completed 20 years later in 1983.<ref name="Bluebook"/>

===Model 19 Musketeer Sport===
[[File:BeechcraftB19MusketeerC-GDYW.jpg|thumb|Beechcraft B19 Musketeer Sport]]

The Beech 19 was introduced as a 1966 model year. Despite having a lower model number, it was a later variant and was a lower-powered trainer version of the Model 23. It lacked the 23's third side window and had a Lycoming O-320-E2C powerplant of {{convert|150|bhp|abbr=on}}. The Sport was introduced in 1966 with a standard price of $11,500. When properly equipped, the A19, B19, and M19 Sports are approved for limited aerobatics.<ref name="Bluebook"/>

The Model 19 was named the "Musketeer Sport" and a total of 922 were built over the 15 years of production which ended with the 1979 model year.<ref name="Bluebook"/>

===Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III===

Along with the introduction of the lower-powered Model 19 in 1966, Beechcraft also introduced a higher-powered version of the Model 23 Musketeer and named it the Beechcraft 23–24 Musketeer Super III. This upgraded model, first flown on 19 November 1965, had a [[Lycoming O-360#IO-360|Lycoming IO-360]] [[fuel injection|fuel injected]] powerplant which produced {{convert|200|bhp|abbr=on}}, {{convert|35|hp|abbr=on}} more than the standard Model 23 Musketeer of that year.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pelletier |first1=A.J. |title=Beech Aircraft and Their Predecessors |date=1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-062-2 |page=131}}</ref> This model initially sold for a price of $16,350 in 1966.

In 1966 a single demonstration Model 23-24 was equipped with a constant speed propeller. In succeeding years approximately one third of production aircraft were delivered with the constant speed propeller.

The Super Musketeer typically has a useful load of 1050 to 1080 pounds – giving it one of the highest payloads of four-cylinder, fixed gear, simple single-engined aircraft available. Most Model 23-24s were produced in a four-seat configuration. A very small number were produced with a 4+2 configuration with the baggage area convertible to seat two children. This configuration option was more common on the Sierra models that followed the Model 23-24.

One of the few weaknesses of the Model 23-24 was that it had a simple heat distribution system that provided warm air via the firewall to the area under the instrument panel only. This meant heat to the rear seat passengers was less than optimal. Later aircraft featured increasingly better ducting designs that provided heat to all four seating positions.

The fixed-gear Model 23-24 was produced only between 1966 and 1969. A total of 369 Musketeer Super IIIs were completed before it was superseded by the Model 24 Sierra. These were serial numbered MA-1 to MA-369 and were the only models to have a "MA" serial number, making them easier to distinguish than other members of the Musketeer line.  In the last few airframes of the series a new instrument panel with the same "vertical tape" gauges that were used in the early Sierras was introduced. These models were known as the A24 and are not to be confused with the first Sierras, which were designated A24R models.  Other than the instrument panel these aircraft were mechanically identical to the earlier A23-24 model.<ref name="Bluebook"/>

===Model 24 Sierra===
[[File:BeechSierra.jpg|thumb|Sierra takeoff]]

[[File:BeechcraftC24RSierraC-GGKPlanding gear.jpg|thumb|Beechcraft B24 Sierra main landing gear showing the characteristic trailing idler link landing gear]]

The Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III proved the utility of the {{convert|200|hp|abbr=on}} engine in the Musketeer airframe, but the fixed-gear configuration prevented using full advantage of the extra power of the injected Lycoming. The obvious solution was retracting the landing gear and this resulted in the Model 24R.

The Musketeer Super R, A24R in 1970 was the first model year for the new retractable version of the Musketeer to compete with the Piper Arrow.

Renamed the "Sierra", in 1972. The initial A24R Sierra was powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1B of {{convert|200|bhp|abbr=on}} and sold for a standard price of $24,950. The Model 24R completed the Beech line between the fixed gear Musketeers and the much larger, faster, more complex and expensive [[Beechcraft Bonanza]].

1974 saw the introduction of the improved B24R Sierra powered by the Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 engine and new propeller variant as a 1974 model year. The improved C24R in 1977 was powered by the same engine and larger propeller. Beech also did an aerodynamic cleanup on the "C" model making it 6 knots faster than the "B" model it replaced in 1977.

Sierra production ended at the same time as the Model 23 Sundowner assembly line was closed up, during the aviation economic downturn of 1983. A total of 744 Sierras were delivered.<ref name="Bluebook"/>

The Musketeer design was further developed into a twin-engined aircraft, the [[Beechcraft Duchess|Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avweb.com/features/beechcraft-duchess/ |title=Beechcraft Duchess |website=avweb.com |author=<!--staff writers, no author credit--> |date=5 August 2005 |access-date=26 July 2021}}</ref>

===CT-134 Musketeer===
{{Main|Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeer}}

The [[Canadian Forces]] purchased twenty-four 1971 model B23 Musketeers, with the first CT-134 arriving at [[CFB Portage la Prairie]] on March 23, 1971. The initial batch of CT-134s was replaced in late 1981 with twenty-four 1982 model Beechcraft C23 Sundowners, which were designated by the CF as CT-134A Musketeer II.<ref name="DND">{{cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/hst/musketeer-eng.asp |title = Beech CT-134 Musketeer |date = April 6, 2004 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |access-date = September 17, 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101205231944/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/hst/musketeer-eng.asp |archive-date = December 5, 2010 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Milberry">Milberry, Larry: ''Sixty Years – The RCAF and Air Command 1924–1984'', page 384. McGraw Hill Ryerson Canav Books, 1984. {{ISBN|0-07-549484-1}}</ref>

==Design==

===Landing gear===

A significant difference between the Musketeer line and other similar light aircraft is the Musketeer's landing gear. While the competitive [[Cessna 172]]s use spring-steel main gear, the [[Piper PA-28 Cherokee]]s use [[oleo strut]]s and the [[Grumman American AA-5]]s use fiberglass-sprung main gear, the Musketeer family use a trailing idler link gear system with compressed rubber pucks for shock absorption. This gives the aircraft quite different landing characteristics compared to the competition; light touchdowns are often accompanied by the idler links skipping and producing a landing that is less graceful  than anticipated. Nevertheless, with practice, smooth landings are easy to accomplish.

As a result of this type of landing gear design, Beechcraft did not design or offer [[Aircraft fairing|wheel fairings]] for the fixed gear models. Several aftermarket manufacturers have designed and tested wheel fairings for Musketeers.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.beechaeroclub.org/content.php/597|title = Wheel Pants For the 19/23/23-24!|access-date = April 13, 2011|last = Rellihan|date=October 2007}}</ref>

==Operational history==

During their production years the Musketeer family of aircraft were popular trainers and were used by many flying schools. Most Musketeers are now privately owned.

==Variants==
[[File:1963BeechcraftModel23.jpg|thumb|1963 Model 23]]
;23 Musketeer
:Four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed [[tricycle landing gear]], powered by a {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-320|Lycoming O-320-D2B]] piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2300|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified February 20, 1962.<ref name="A1CE" />
;A23 Musketeer II
:Four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|165|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Continental IO-346|Continental IO-346-A]] piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2350|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified June 7, 1963.<ref name="A1CE" />
;A23A
:Four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|165|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental IO-346-A piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2400|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified November 5, 1965.<ref name="A1CE" />
[[File:Beechcraft A23A Musketeer (VH-RWA) at the 2013 Australian International Airshow.jpg|thumb|1967 model A23A Musketeer]]
;A23-19 (Model 19)
:Two or four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-E2B, E2C or E3D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified December 9, 1965.<ref name="A1CE" />
;A23-24
:Four or six-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-A2B or A2D, or when equipped with a constant speed propeller a Lycoming IO-360-A1B or A1D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2550|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified March 7, 1966.<ref name="A1CE" />
;A24
:Four or six-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-A2B or A2D, or when equipped with a constant speed propeller a Lycoming IO-360-A1B or A1D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2550|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified February 5, 1970.<ref name="A1CE" />
;19A
:Two or four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-E2B, E2C or E3D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified August 31, 1967, approved in the [[aerobatic]] category March 12, 1968.<ref name="A1CE" />
;M19A
:Two-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-E2B, E2C or E3D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified December 9, 1969, including in the aerobatic category.<ref name="A1CE" />
;B19
:Two or four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-E2B, E2C or E3D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified February 13, 1970, including in the aerobatic category.<ref name="A1CE" />
;B23
:Four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming O-360-A2G]] piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2450|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified December 13, 1967 and in the aerobatic category November 22, 1968.<ref name="A1CE" />
[[File:Beechcraft BE-23 Sundowner C-GJML.JPG|thumb|right|1980 model Beechcraft C23 Sundowner]]
;C23
:Four-seat light cabin aircraft, fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-360-A4G, A2G, A4J or A4K piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2450|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified February 13, 1970 including in the aerobatic category.<ref name="A1CE" />
;A24R Sierra 200
:Four or six-seat light cabin aircraft, retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-A1B or A1D piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified December 23, 1969.<ref name="A1CE" />
;B24R Sierra 200
:Four or six-seat light cabin aircraft, retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 piston engine and new propeller variant, gross weight of {{convert|2750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified June 18, 1973 sold as a 1974 model also had a new larger rear baggage door.<ref name="A1CE" />
;C24R Sierra 200
:Four or six-seat light cabin aircraft, retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 piston engine, gross weight of {{convert|2750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, first certified October 1, 1976 with a new larger prop and aerodynamic cleanup by Beech made it 6 knots faster than the "B" .<ref name="A1CE" />

==Operators==

===Military operators===
;{{flag|Algeria}} 
* [[Algerian Air Force]] (4 x B24R Sierra); no longer in service
;{{flag|Canada}} 
* [[Canadian Armed Forces]] (24 x B23 and 24 x C23 Sundowners, designated as [[CT-134]]) until 1992 when they were replaced by [[Slingsby T67 Firefly]]
;{{flag|Hong Kong|colonial}} 
* [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]] (2 x B23-19); retired in 1993 with disbanding of RHKAAF with GFS ordering [[Slingsby T67 Firefly]]
;{{flag|Mexico}}
* [[Mexican Air Force]] (20 x A23-19); all retired
;{{flag|Morocco}}
* [[Royal Moroccan Air Force]] (1 x 23); no longer in active service

==Specifications==

===A23A Musketeer Custom III===
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Airliners.net<ref name="Airliners">{{cite web|url = http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=62|title = The Beech 19/23/24 Musketeer/Sierra/Sport/Sundowner|access-date = February 6, 2010|last = Demand Media|year = 2010}}</ref> The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|access-date = June 28, 2008|last = Lednicer|first = David|date = October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080515232025/http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = May 15, 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref><!-- reference -->
|prime units?=kts<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=one
|capacity=three passengers
|length m=
|length ft=25
|length in=8
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|span ft=32
|span in=9
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|height ft=8
|height in=3
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=146
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|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=NACA 63A415
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1375
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2400
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
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|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Continental IO-346| Continental IO-346-A]]
|eng1 type= four cylinder air-cooled [[horizontally opposed]] aircraft piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=165<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 note=
|power original=

|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=fixed pitch
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
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|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=127
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=102
|cruise speed note=long range cruise speed
|stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed kts=63
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=152
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=676
|range note=with reserves
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=13000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=728
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=<!-- add bulletted list here or if you want to use the following specific parameters, remove this parameter-->
|guns= 
|bombs= 
|rockets= 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeer]]
* [[Beechcraft Duchess]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Cessna 172]]
* [[Cessna 177 Cardinal]]
* [[Grumman American AA-5]]
* [[Piper PA-28 Cherokee]]
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Beechcraft Musketeer}}
* [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=62 Airliners.net] Musketeer page

{{Beechcraft}}

[[Category:Beechcraft aircraft|Musketeer]]
[[Category:1960s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:1960s United States civil trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1963]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]