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Encyclopedia > Beechcraft King Air

King Air
C-GSYN, Adlair Aviation Ltd.'s King Air 100
Type Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer Beechcraft
Maiden flight May 1963
Introduced 1964-09-09
Status Active service
Primary user United States Navy
Developed from Beechcraft Queen Air
Variants Beechcraft Super King Air
Beechcraft Model 99

The Beechcraft King Air is a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon Aircraft). The King Air has been in continuous production since 1964, the longest production run of any civilian turboprop aircraft. It has outlasted all of its previous competitors and as of 2006 is one of only two twin-turboprop business airplanes in production (the other is the Piaggio Avanti). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1632x1232, 746 KB) C-GSYN Adlair Aviation Ltd Beechcraft King Air 100 (BE10) Picture taken 14th June 2005 at 14:03 MDT (14th June 2005 20:03Z) at Cambridge Bay Airport, Nunavut, Canada File links The following pages on the English... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... The Beech Aircraft Corporation, purchased by Raytheon Aircraft on February 8, 1980, and often called Beechcraft after the name they give their aircraft, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... The Beechcraft Queen Air is a twin engined light aircraft produced by Beechcraft (now Raytheon) in several different versions from the sixties to the seventies. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled Beechcraft King Air and Beechcraft Super King Air, accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The Beechcraft Model 99 is similar to the King Air 200 but is not presurized civilian aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now Raytheon). ... A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ... Look up aircraft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Beech Aircraft Corporation, purchased by Raytheon Aircraft on February 8, 1980, and often called Beechcraft after the name they give their aircraft, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. ... Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is a major United States military contractor based in Waltham, Massachusetts. ... The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is twin engine business aircraft made by Piaggio Aero. ...


Historically, the King Air family comprises a number of models that fall into four families, the Model 90 series, Model 100 series, Model 200 series, and Model 300 series. The last two types were originally marketed as the Super King Air, but the "Super" moniker was dropped in 1996. As of 2006, the only small King Air in production is the conventional-tail C90GT. It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled Beechcraft King Air and Beechcraft Super King Air, accessible from a disambiguation page. ...


In addition, two other aircraft series, the Beechcraft Model 99 (from the 100), and the Beechcraft 1900 (from the 200) were derived from the King Air family. The Beechcraft Model 99 is similar to the King Air 200 but is not presurized civilian aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now Raytheon). ... A Sunwest Airlines Beech 1900D at Vancouver International Airport. ...

Contents

[edit] Development

[edit] Model 90 series

King Air E90 taxis at the Mojave Spaceport
King Air E90 taxis at the Mojave Spaceport

In May of 1963 Beechcraft began test flights of the first King Air. On September 9, 1964 the first production Model 90 rolled off the line. By the end of 1968 more than 400 had been delivered with the original Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A turboprop engines, rated at 500 shaft horsepower (shp). Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 568 pixelsFull resolution (2224 × 1580 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 568 pixelsFull resolution (2224 × 1580 pixel, file size: 1. ... Mojave Airport, storage location for commercial airliners. ... The Beech Aircraft Corporation, purchased by Raytheon Aircraft on February 8, 1980, and often called Beechcraft after the name they give their aircraft, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... A PT6A-67D engine on a Beechcraft 1900D. The jet nozzle on the exhaust is prominent. ...


Further refinement of the 90-series resulted in the A90, B90, C90, C90-1, C90A, C90B, C90SE, C90GT, E90, F90, and F90-1. The F-models featured the T-tail of the Model 200 King Air, while differences among the other 90-series models are confined primarily to the engines used.


In July 2005, during the Oshkosh Airshow, Beechcraft introduced the C90GT. This is a more powerful version of the C90B, which it replaces. The C90GT uses PT6A-135A engines of 750 shp, but flat rated to same 550 shp as in the C90B. This engine change increases performance due to lower operating temperatures, improving both cruise speed and climb rate. With a 275 knot cruise speed, the C90GT is highly competitive with the new generation of Very Light Jets over short to medium distances, while providing a larger and more luxurious cabin. Aerobatic team performs at EAA AirVenture The Oshkosh Airshow (officially EAA AirVenture Oshkosh) is an annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ... When an engine is Flat rated it means that an engine of high Horsepower rating, is constrained to a lower Horsepower rating. ... Eclipse 500 VLJ A Very Light Jet (VLJ) is a small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation. ...


[edit] Military versions of King Air 90

Navy T-44A
Navy T-44A

U.S. military used King Air 90 in various roles, primarily VIP and liaison transport, resulting in designations including the C-6 Ute and U-21 Ute. U-21 Ute is the more common version. Most U-21s are unpressurized King Air Model 90's (developed from the piston-powered Model 65 Queen air; the U-21's civilian type-certificated model number is BE-65-A90-1), with the exception of U-21J, which is Super King Air Model 200's. Image File history File linksMetadata T_44_4LR.jpeg‎ US Navy photo from http://pao. ... Image File history File linksMetadata T_44_4LR.jpeg‎ US Navy photo from http://pao. ...


A trainer version, T-44A Pegasus, was used to train United States Navy and Air Force pilots to fly multi-engine, turbo-prop aircraft such as the P-3 Orion and the C-130 Hercules. In August, 2006, the Navy announced that, after 29 years of operation, the T-44A fleet will be upgraded with modernized avionics systems, and upgraded to a T-44C designation.[1] The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ...


[edit] Air Force One

VC-6A used as Air Force One
VC-6A used as Air Force One

During the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, the United States Air Force acquired a B90 to transport Johnson between Bergstrom Air Force Base (near Austin, Texas) and the Johnson family ranch near Johnson City, Texas. When Johnson was aboard, the aircraft used the callsign Air Force One. The military designation of the B90 used for executive transport was VC-6A. This aircraft is now on display, with other presidential aircraft, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Image File history File links VC6A_Presidential_Aircraft. ... Image File history File links VC6A_Presidential_Aircraft. ... The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908–January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Bergstrom AFB, Texas - 1962 Bergstrom Air Force Base (1942-1993) was located seven miles southeast of Austin, Texas. ... Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Travis County, Williamson County Government  - Mayor Will Wynn Area  - City  296. ... Johnson City is a city located in Blanco County, Texas. ... For other uses, see Air Force One (disambiguation). ... View of the National Museum of the United States Air Force Main entrance to the museum The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official national museum of the United States Air Force and is located at Wright-Patterson Air... Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties, adjacent to Fairborn and Dayton, Ohio. ... Nickname: Coordinates: Country United States State Ohio County Montgomery Founded April 1, 1796 Incorporated 1805 Government  - Mayor Rhine L. McLin Area  - City  56. ...


[edit] Model 100 series

On May 23, 1969 the Model 100 was introduced, offering a larger cabin than the Model 90. Later 100-series models included the A100, a military version, and the B100, which featured 715 shp Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines as a result of Pratt and Whitneys inability to provide engines. The 100 series was discontinued in 1984. The Model 99 series was based on the Model 100 airframe. TPE-331 Engine This is a Gas Turbine Turboprop Engine originally designed by AiRsearch and now produced by Honeywell. ...


[edit] Production notes

On June 24, 1996, the 5,000th King Air was delivered. Thousands of King Airs are in service around the world. June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...


In early 2005 Raytheon added the Collins Proline 21 avionics package to the King Air B200 and 350 (the C90B was not changed). This modernized the cockpits to three large EFIS displays similar to most jets.


[edit] Operators

Military King Air operators
Military King Air operators

The King Air has more than 6,000 aircraft operated by corporate, commercial and special mission operations in more than 94 countries.[2] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 352 pixelsFull resolution (1427 × 628 pixel, file size: 51 KB, MIME type: image/png) World map of military operators of the Beechcraft King Air File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 352 pixelsFull resolution (1427 × 628 pixel, file size: 51 KB, MIME type: image/png) World map of military operators of the Beechcraft King Air File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other...


[edit] Military operators

US Army VC-6A, often used by Wernher von Braun, currently displayed at White Sands Missile Range Museum
US Army VC-6A, often used by Wernher von Braun, currently displayed at White Sands Missile Range Museum

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 295 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 295 pixel, file size: 28 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) VC6A Flugzeug mit dem Wernher von Braun oft geflogen ist, White Sands Missile Range Museum, It is the military version of the Beechcraft King Air B90... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 500 × 295 pixelsFull resolution (500 × 295 pixel, file size: 28 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) VC6A Flugzeug mit dem Wernher von Braun oft geflogen ist, White Sands Missile Range Museum, It is the military version of the Beechcraft King Air B90... Wernher von Braun stands at his desk in the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama in May 1964, with models of rockets developed and in progress. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Angola. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bolivia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Botswana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... The RCAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force with a maple leaf, a symbol of Canada in the centre. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ecuador. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guatemala. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jamaica. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force or RNZAF is the air operations arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Pakistan_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Paraguay. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macedonia. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ...

[edit] Civil operators

Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... Air Creebec is a regional airline in Quebec and Ontario in Canada. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Today, the Republic of China is commonly known as Taiwan or Chinese Taipei. Not to be confused with the Peoples Republic of China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hong_Kong_1959. ... Government Flying Service is the flying services unit of the Hong Kong Government, mainly for search and rescue, air ambulance, firefighting, and police operations. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... DEA is an abbreviation of the following, among others: Dance Educators of America Drug Enforcement Administration (USA) TheDEA.org, a harm reduction web site. ... This article is about the American space agency. ...

[edit] Other information

The ICAO designator, such as might be used in a PIREP or a flight plan, for the various King Airs are BE90 (various model 90s), and BE10 (model 100). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... A Pilot Report (PIREP) is a report of weather conditions encountered by an aircraft during a flight. ... Flight plans are plans filed by pilots with the local Aviation Authority (e. ...


[edit] Specifications (King Air C90B)

Data from Airliners.net, Jane's All the World Aircraft, Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory [3], [4], [5] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 574 × 385 pixelsFull resolution (574 × 385 pixel, file size: 15 KB, MIME type: image/png) This picture may have usage restrictions -- Beechcraft KING AIR Source: FM 44-80 VISUAL AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION chapter 9 (US-government) File links The following pages on...

General characteristics

Performance

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... The PT6 is a turboprop aircraft engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada and is the most popular turboprop in history [1]. It has an unusual design in that the air enters from the rear of the engine and the power section is at the front. ... A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Airspeed Indicator in a light aircraft The VC of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of cruising. ... Stall speed is an aerodynamic term. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ...

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vendrasco, Stephanie, "Transforming the Pegasus"
  2. ^ Aerospace technology.com, retrieved July 30, 2006
  3. ^ Lundgren, Johan (1996-2006). Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 90. Airliners.net. AirNav Systems LLC. URL accessed on 2006-02-08.
  4. ^ Jackson, Paul; Munson, Kenneth; Peacock, Lindsay. Jane's All the World's Aircraft. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2684-3. 
  5. ^ (1999) in M J H Taylor: Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1 85753 245 7. 

Airliners. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Designation sequence

Related lists

See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Beechcraft King Air - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1118 words)
King Air is the name for a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon Aircraft).
In addition, two other aircraft series, the Beechcraft Model 99 and the Beechcraft 1900 were derived from the King Air family.
The ICAO designator, such as might be used in a PIREP or a flight plan, for the various King Airs are BE90 (various model 90s), BE10 (model 100), BE20 (model 200), BE30 (model 300), and B350 (model 350).
Royal Refinement: A Timeline of the Beechcraft King Air: Aviation History: Wings Over Kansas (2832 words)
Nearly 6,000 Beechcraft King Airs of 17 variants have been sold since the product line was introduced in 1964, making this the most successful series of twin turbine-powered business aircraft ever built.
The Super King Air was powered by to PandW PT6A-41 turboprop engines rated at 850 shp each, and could deliver that power up to 106 degrees F. The aircraft carried 544 gallons of fuel in wing/nacelle tanks and two auxiliary tanks located in the wing center section that was two feet wider than the A100's.
Intended as a step-up King Air from the E90, the F90 was equipped with two 750 shp PT6A-135 turboprop engines, seated seven to 10 occupants (including crew) and cruised at 307 mph.