In 1955, the Aerophysics Department had the opportunity to acquire a Beechcraft C-45 and an AT-11 that had been placed in dry storage at Davis-Monthan in Arizona. The only expenses incurred would be the cost of having the aircraft made airworthy, as well as the cost of getting them back to Mississippi. Mel Swartzberg knew what a windfall this would be, and set the wheels in motion by writing the requisition letter and eliminating the majority of the red tape normally involved so that the higher-ups in the university would approve.

Both the C-45 and AT-11 were variants of the civilian Beechcraft D-18. Developed in 1935 and introduced in 1937, the government contracted the company and utilized the aircarft as a staff transport, designating the variant C-45 "Expeditor." In 1941, other variants of the aircraft were developed, and the AT-11 was used for bombardier and gunnery training. The AT-11 incorporated a glass nose, a bomb bay, and positions for machine guns. Specifications for the aircraft were:

Engines: Two 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radial piston engines.
Weight: Empty 6,175 lbs., Max Takeoff 8,727 lbs.
Wing Span: 47ft. 8in.
Length: 34ft. 3in.
Height: 9ft. 8in.

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 215 mph
Ceiling: 21,400 ft.
Range: 850 miles

Mississippi State's AT-11 was used for various projects, including aerodynamic studies for helicopter propeller hubs, as well as for military blimp studies. Gus Raspet also used the aircraft as a proptotype in developing various fairings and gap seals which improved airflow over the aircraft's surfaces. The C-45 was a Navy version (JRB-2), and although used for transport, was also used as a test bed for experimental wing tips and ducts.

During Sean Roberts' tenure as lab director, the aircraft was used as a flying classroom. When an Airworthiness Directive was issued regarding the landing gear for the C-45, the repair was deemed too expensive, and both the C-45 and the AT-11 were sold by director Jim Cross in the 1970's.
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