Its powerful engines, reliable structure, and ability to land in several types of runway, such as, gravel, dirt, grass, besides asphalt, make the King Air an incomparable aircraft. Proof of that is its great success: it is, admittedly, the world's best selling turboprop.
But aside from the business and utility sectors, King Air turboprops are widely used for specialized missions including air ambulance, surveillance, aerial survey and more. Countries across the world use King Air turboprops for civil and governmental usage as well as military and healthcare usage.
Contrary to popular belief, King Airs are not loud. For many years, those in the world of aviation have known turboprops to make excessive noise due to the propeller blasting its way through the air.
Since then, Beechcraft – now under the Textron Aviation banner – has delivered over 7,600 aircraft to both commercial and military customers around the world. According to the OEM, 6,320 King Airs are still flying today, and the global fleet has clocked some 63 million flight hours.
The Beechcraft King Air 300 remains a pivotal aircraft in the King Air lineage, celebrated for its superior performance and innovative design. First introduced in 1984, it set new standards in the turboprop market with its advanced PT6A engines and refined aerodynamics.
The King Air became a trusted workhorse in the aviation industry, with a reputation for being one of the most reliable and cost-effective turboprop aircraft on the market.
The Beech King Air is the world's most popular turboprop aircraft. Beech Aircraft Corporation developed the King Air in 1964 as a compromise between piston-engine and jet aircraft and the design quickly found success.
Furthermore, attempt to define the best of the King Airs, and you'll eventually home in on the T-tailed model 200. This one model is almost universally accepted as the best all-around King Air on the market and one of the world's best business turboprops, period.
In the normal category all aerobatic maneuvers including spins are prohibited. The airplane is approved for day and night VFR/IFR operations when equipped in accordance with F.A.R. 91 or F.A.R 135. The Super King Air 200 is powered by two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-41 turbopropeller engines, each rated at 850 shp.
The King Air is fundamentally a strong airplane, thanks to its evolution over more than 80 years of Beech aircraft construction. It's also quite easy to fly, especially with the autothrottle to absorb some of the work for a single pilot.
King Air E90 also has an impressive range, able to fly up to 1,224 nautical miles on a single tank. Combined with its exterior noise reduction design, King Air E90 is perfect for a stress-free journey.
For more than 50 years, the King Air® turboprop line has reigned as one of aviation's most reliable and celebrated turboprop families. Take this opportunity to experience an exciting new chapter in this storied aircraft's history.
Yes. The larger ones requiring a type rating may need to be 2 crew but this depends on that particular pilots type rating. The type is single pilot still. The smaller ones don't need a type rating and are obviously single pilot.
So, how do you improve an airplane that is clearly the most successful in its class? Owners and pilots alike have nothing but praise and appreciation for what is truly the “King of the Air” in the turboprop market. Ask anyone who operates a King Air 350 and they'll give high marks in just about every category.
Throughout much of the mid-to-late 20th century, Beechcraft was considered one of the "Big Three" in the field of general aviation manufacturing, along with Cessna and Piper Aircraft.
What is the military version of the Beechcraft King Air?
The UC-12F/M Huron is the military version of the King Air 200 aircraft manufactured by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation now Textron. The UC-12W Huron is a modified version of King Air 350 and is a modern and improved variant of the UC-12F/M. The Huron is a low-wing, T-tail monoplane with two turboprop engines.
For missions up to 600 miles, the 350 gets you there within a couple of minutes of a jet for a whole lot less money. At 300 knots in the high-20s, it burns around 95 gallons of fuel per hour; reduce speed into the mid-200s and the burn rate drops to less than 60 gallons per hour.
Interior noise is as low as 78 dBA in some parts of the airplane during some phases of flight and as high as 88 dBA. Generally speaking, interior noise was 81-85 dBA, similar to the Twin Commander, but inferior to the turbojets that people have been buying instead of the King Air.
Beechcraft's King Air models have been in continuous production for more than 50 years, and during that span, the company has delivered more than 7000 examples worldwide. The planes' appeal stems from their speed, efficiency, and reliability.
