Beechcraft Duke
The old saying about something looking fast when it was standing still applies to Ferraris and Jaguar Type Es alike, but when it comes to planes, they often look like they’re set in concrete while sitting on the ramp. There are exceptions, but we’d argue that no plane in any segment comes close to achieving the swept-back, rakish, in-your-face look of the Duke. With around 600 produced from 1968 to 1983, the Duke was a successful plane for Beechcraft and an important one for its place in the history of airplane development.
A pressurized twin with good speed and great range, it filled a coveted niche and competed directly against Cessna’s pretty 421 Golden Eagle. The pilots who bought a Duke were inspired by its looks. They were the kind of customer who might have a Porsche 911 in the garage at home. They were people who liked fast machines that also looked fast. Designers of the Duke achieved its striking look by taking the concept of “swept back” and applying it everywhere, and it worked. The combination of the swept tail, swept winglets, elongated pointy nose—like that of a hypersonic jet—and angular windows created a look that sold many a Duke before the buyer even climbed inside.
