Been here three years and just stumbled across this thread today. My username's pretty self explanatory. Happiest time of my flying career was 6 1/2 years in the Beech 1900 airliner (ATC code: Be02) with the commuter airline that was the launch customer and owned the prototype of the B model, N6667L, UB1. In many ways (weight, power, and speed) she was an analog to the A20 Havoc and certainly at least as, if not more agile. If she were stressed for a few more G's, she would have made a great little COIN fighter plane. She could do unheard of things for an airliner, such as shedding 5,000 feet of altitude AND 50 knots airspeed while turning 180°, all in under 3 minutes, and all without making the passengers nervous. An attribute ATC often found useful in busy terminal airspace. She had two marvelous speed brakes, each with four blades, and each attached to the business end of a 1200 HP PT6. Judicious manipulation of the power levers and trim could drop you from cruise into a 2500-3000 FPM descent at decreasing airspeed with a level deck, no audible change in propeller sound, and very little feel of deceleration. AND she could land on RWY 33R at Logan (BOS) at anything less than MLW. (Check that on the chart!)
It's been great getting the story behind the story on all you guys.
Cheers,
Wes