The landing gear is a low-maintenance, spring system designed for sturdiness and utility. A substantial portion of its construction is bonded metal, including the lower cabin section of the fuselage, the entire wing, the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, the trim tabs, and the rudder. The Skipper is the third Beechcraft T-tail model, following the Super King Air and Duchess. The T-tail configuration places the horizontal stabilizer above the slipstream in undisturbed air to give smoother flight and more positive control during landing maneuvers. Its airfoil section is an outgrowth of NASA’s high-speed, super-critical airfoil technology and provides a lower drag, higher lift capability. A new concept in airfoil design was utilized by the Skipper. An external tunnel on the bottom of the fuselage houses primary controls and makes for additional cabin room, as well as allowing for easy maintenance. The Skipper’s canopy-type cabin gives the instructor and student pilot optimum, all-around visibility, while both left and right doors provide for convenient entry. A low-wing Ttail model, it was powered by a four-cylinder Lycoming engine rated at 115 hp at 2,700 RPM. Originally designated the PD 28’S, this single-engine trainer was first delivered in early 1979.
