Mystery Airplane Contest – July 2025

Established in 1953, Pacific Aeromotive Corporation was formed at Burbank, California, to modify Lockheed Lodestars to Learstar executive transports. It also modified T-28As to the more powerful Nomad configuration and working with Allison, designed, certified, and converted Convair 340s and 440s to the turboprop 580.

One of Pacaero's most extensive conversions was the upgrading of the classic Beech 18, which first flew on 15 January 1937. Built with a confusing variety of designations for civilian and military operations, the Twin Beech remained in production until 1969. Over 9100 were produc...