C-12 Variants

The C-12A was the initial King Air A200 version powered by a pair of 750 shp P&WC PT6A-38 turboprops with auxiliary fuel tanks. A total of 91 were delivered, including 60 to the US Army, 30 to the US Air Force 30, and one to the Greek Air Force one. Entering service in July 1975, the US Air Force aircraft were mainly used for embassy support flights. Subsequently these airframes were re-engined to the C-12C and C-12E versions.

The UC-12B is the US Navy/Marine Corps version King Air A200C with a pair of 850 shp PT6A-41 turboprops, engines. Other features include a cargo door and high flotation landing gear. The US Navy ordered a total of 49, while the US Marines accepted delivery of 17 by May 1982, for base communications flights. The basic mission of the UC-12B aircraft is to provide on call 24 hour, 7 day a week transportation of passengers and / or light cargo. UC-12B's assigned to VRC-30 are used as training aircraft for new Fleet Replacement Pilots and Aircrew. The flight and cabin compartments are pressurized for high altitude flight. The cargo and airstair doors are located on the left side of the aircraft, aft of the wing. The cargo door swings up to load light cargo, and the airstair door within the cargo door swings down forming steps for passenger and crew entry and exit. A plug type ground escape hatch is located on the right side of the aircraft at the forward end of the passenger compartment. The pressurized fuselage section of the UC-12B is divided into two sections: The flight compartment and the cabin section. The flight compartment contains seating for two Pilots, and the cabin section contains seating for one Aircrewman and seven passengers or no Aircrewman and eight passengers. All of the cabin seating may be removed for the transportation of light cargo as needed. The UC-12B can be found operating worldwide with the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, and the US Army. In addition there are many civilian operators of the UC-12B, or the King Air B-200 as it is known around the world. VRC-30 operates three UC-12B aircraft.

The TC-12B aircraft is a twin-engine, pressurized, fixed-wing monoplane manufactured by Beech Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas. A total of 14 UC-12B were converted to the TC-12B (unofficial designation) crew trainer for VT-31 of Training Wing 4 at Corpus Christi, TX. The TC-12B is used for advanced turboprop aircraft training and for intermediate E2/C2 (carrier based turboprop radar aircraft) training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The TC-12B is equipped with deicing and anti-icing systems augmented by instrumentation and navigation equipment which allows flight under instrument and icing conditions.

The C-12C is similar to the C-12A, though with PT6A-41 turboprop engines. A total of 14 US Army C-12A airfraems were re-engined and delivered as C-12C. Five additional aircraft were civilianized in 1989 for the US Customs Service, with eight additional aircraft operating by the Customs Service by 1998.

The C-12D is a King Air A200CT that is generally similar to the US Army C-12C, though with a cargo door, high flotation landing gear and provision for tip tanks. Deliveries include 24 to the US Army and six to the US Air Force (for embassy support flights). A further 21 aircraft were built, but converted to the RC-12 varianet before delivery.

The C-12E consists of a total of 29 US Air Force C-12A aircraft retrofitted with PT6A-42 turboprops along with other modifications to the C-12C standard. Carrying two crew plus nine passengers, the aircraft are assigned to various US embassies.

The C-12F is an Operational Support Aircraft (OSA), generally derived from the King Air Model B200C with PT6A-42 turboprop engines and a cargo door. Configuration options include two crew and eight passengers, more than 1,050 kg (2,300 lb) of freight, or two litter patients and attendants. The C-12F can carry up to eight passengers and has a cargo capacity of 56 cubic feet. It can be used to transport patients on medical evacuation litters. The aircraft provides on-call, rapid response, modern air transport for high priority supply and movement of key personnel. Specifically, it is used for VIP transport or to deliver repair parts; equipment; and technical, crash investigation, and accident investigation teams wherever needed. Its support role also includes such functions as range clearance, medical evacuation, administrative movement of personnel, transportation connections, and courier flights. There are 19 C-12Fs in the active duty Air Force. The first delivery was in May 1984, and the US Air Force purchased a total of 40 after an initial five year lease. Delivery began in May 1984 and was completed by the end of that year. The Air Force acquired the C-12F at the direction of Congress to support the Defense Attaché and Security Assistance Offices. Many of these aircraft were transferred to US Army in 1995. The US Army National Guard ordered 20 during FY85-87, with deliveries including 12 C-12F-1s and eight C-12F-2s. The Air National Guard ordered six in FY84. The former US Air Force and Air National Guard aircraft in US Army service are designated the C-12F-3. The UC-12F is the US Navy equivalent of the US Air Force C-12F. The US Navy received the first of twelve in 1986. Two of these were modified with surface search radar and an operator's console to RC-12F Range Surveillance Aircraft (RANSAC) for the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Hawaii.

The C-12L is the RU-21J minus Guardrail equipment which was removed from these three aircraft in 1979. The aircraft were subsequently used for transport duties, and redesignated C-12L in the mid-1980s. One aircraft was civilianised in 1996, while two others are in storage.

The UC-12M is the US Navy designation of C-12F slightly modified with unique cockpit instruments, lighting and voice communications. A total of twelve were delivered beginning in 1987 to equip base flights. Of these, two were converted in 1988 with surface search radar and operator's console to the RC-12M Range Surveillance Aircraft (RANSAC) the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu. These two aircraf are now based at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

The C-12R is an off-the-shelf King Air B200C ordered for the US Army Reserve and National Guard. Initially 15 were ordered in FY1994, with an option for a further 14 exercised 1995 for delivery between July 1996 and August 1997. The first deliveries were in late 1994 to A Company 2-228 Aviation Battalion at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, followed by B company at McCoy AAF, Wisconsin and D Company of 1-228 at Columbia, South Carolina, and State Area Commands of Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico and Washington.

The C-12R/AP consists of a pair of camera-equipped special mission aircraft for Greek government ordered by US Army on 31 January 2000, for delivery by mid-2001.

The support concept is total contractor support wherein a commercial Contractor provides all FAA approved maintenance and material support. The contractor is solely responsible for all materials (including acquisition, storage, configuration, repair, packaging, and shipping) until they are consumed in support of the aircraft. The Contractor also provides other maintenance functions such as: crash damage repair; engine repair/overhaul; propeller repair/overhaul; and airframe and avionics overhaul, repair, and modification. Aircraft modification efforts are "turnkey" projects (procurement and installation) implemented as part of competitively awarded maintenance contracts. Where extensive integration efforts are required, the non-recurring engineering phase, including test and certification, is typically performed by the aircraft OEM under a sole source engineering contract with the Navy.

The US Customs Service (USCS) C-12M is equipped with surface search radar to detect and track marine targets. These aircraft work closely with USCS interceptor boats and U.S. Coast Guard vessels to apprehend suspect drug traffickers. Smuggling activities are videotaped and documented for subsequent use in criminal proceedings. Congress established the Air program in 1969 in response to an increase in drug smuggling via light, private aircraft. This program became operational in 1971 with a small fleet of confiscated aircraft.

Installing a new digital flight instrumentation system in the C-12 Huron aircraft is one of several modifications planned to help keep the airplane flying another 20 years. The Huron's modification involves a "glass cockpit" used to take advantage of newer avionics technologies. The contractor logistics support directorate here will manage the modifications.

The digital modification to the cockpit will replace the old analog system with three to five multi-function displays, depending on the avionics suite selected, Scott said. Along with the displays comes new computer software, allowing conveniences such as task automation.

Other benefits should include savings in fuel consumption and maintenance costs, as well as improved safety and supportability. Scott said these improvements would allow crewmembers to focus on mission-related tasking. Installing new Line Replaceable Units will reduce time between failure and associated maintenance costs.