The Beechcraft C23 Sundowner is a single-engined, low wing, four-seat light cabin aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear. The aircraft is a further development of the Beech Model 23 Musketeer. The prototype of the four-seat Model 23 (N9488 c/n M-1) was flown for the first time on 23 October 1961. FAA certification for the Model 23 was approved 20 February 1962. The Beech 23, powered by a Lycoming O-320-D2B piston engine, was introduced on the market under the "Musketeer" name, and the first deliveries were made in the Autumn of 1962. The Beech Model Model C23 was certified by the FAA, including the aerobatic catagory, on 13 February 1970. Like the Musketeer, the Sundowner employs bonded aluminium honeycomb construction for the wings, and all three components of the fixed nosewheel undercarriage are identical and interchangeable. The Beech C23 is powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4G, A2G, A4J or A4K piston engine. A total of 2,331 Beechcraft 23s of all variants were built manufactured by the time production was completed in 1983. During their production years the Musketeer family of aircraft were popular trainers and were used by many flying schools. On 8 February 1980, the Beech Aircraft Corporation became a subsidiary of the Raytheon Company, the aircraft are therefore also known as Raytheon Beech. In 2006, Raytheon sold Raytheon Aircraft to Goldman Sachs creating Hawker Beechcraft. The entry into bankruptcy of Hawker Beechcraft on 3 May 2012 ended with its emergence on 16 February 2013 as a new entity: Beechcraft Corporation.

On 16 August 1977, the Beechcraft C23 Sundowner 180 s/n M-1968 was registered PH-MBS in the Netherlands with Martinair Holland NV, Schiphol-Centrum. On 9 August 1979, the PH-MBS was registered with Martinair Vestiging Lelystad BV, Lelystad. On 17 June 1981, the aircraft was registered with E.R. Buitink & R.A. Buitink, Amersfoort. On 9 September 1985, The PH-MBS was registered with Wings over Holland BV, Lelystad as operator and Beechair Vof as owner. On 16 April 2009, the 1977-built Beechcraft C23 Sundowner 180 PH-MBS was registered with C.P.C. van Goethem, Gasselte. The aircraft is powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4K piston engine. On 18 April 2015, the PH-MBS was seen at its homebase Hoogeveen airfield in the Netherlands.

►  aeroplanes index   helicopters index   EC120 - H120 productionlist   Micro Light Aeroplanes   European Airfields ◄