Warplanes of the USA: Beechcraft U-8D Seminole

Beechcraft U-8D Seminole

(US Army Photo)

U.S. Army Beechcraft U-8D Seminole (Serial No. 58-3056). The U-8 was designated L-23 before 1962 and was the military version of the Beechcraft Twin Bonanza.

The first L-23As entered service in 1953 and the type served the US Army for almost forty years, the last U-8Fs being retired in 1992. When US military aircraft designations were revised in 1962, the remaining L-23D, RL-23D, L-23E and L-23F aircraft became U-8Ds, RU-8Ds, U-8Es and U-8Fs. A further 47 Model 65s were ordered in 1962 and 1963 as U-8Fs; one of these was delivered to the Pakistan Army, formally the only L-23 or U-8 delivery to a foreign user (although other nations bought Queen Airs off-the-shelf as military aircraft). These were the final new-build aircraft in the series, however the unique Beechcraft Model 87 turboprop proof-of-concept aircraft used in developing the King Air was delivered to the Army as the NU-8F in 1964 (this was later re-designated the YU-21) and a few used Queen Airs were also taken by the Army.

Many U-8Fs were modified during their service lives to a similar standard as civilian Excalibur Queen Airs. The most obvious modifications are more powerful Lycoming IO-720 eight-cylinder engines in place of the factory-fitted six-cylinder engines; and bulged main landing gear doors that fully enclose the wheels when the gear is retracted instead of the wheels partially protruding through the doors. Many L-23Ds/U-8Ds and U-8Fs have been registered as civilian aircraft since retirement from military service. (Wikipedia)

Preserved  Beechcraft U-8D Seminoles

(PASM Photo)

(aeroprints Photo)

56-3701 – U-8D on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)

56-3708 - Ellsworth AFB Museum, South Dakota.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)
58-1358 - RU-8D on static display at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas.

(SWAG Photo)
58-3051 - U-8D on static display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Joint Base Langley–Eustis near Newport News, Virginia.

(Jim Mandelblatt Photo)

59-2540 - RU-8D, C/N LH-197, “Lonely Ringer”.  Displayed on posts entering the park, to permit one to walk underneath it. (59-4991). National Vigilance Park at Fort Meade, Maryland. This airframe was previously on display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum.

(Eric Friedebach Photos)
62-3838 - U-8F on static display at the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas.

Beechcraft U-8A Seminole (Serial No. 52-1700). Fort Novosel, Alabama.

Beechcraft RU-8D Seminole (Serial No. 56-3712). Fort Novosel, Alabama.

Beechcraft U-8G Seminole (Serial No. 63-12902). Fort Novosel, Alabama.

Beechcraft U-8F Seminole (Serial No. 62-03841), Reg. No. N51779, Joronamo Inc, 3511 Silverside Rd Ste 105, Wilmington, DE 19810-4902.