History

The Beech Model 90 King Air was the first model in the largest and most successful family of corporate turboprop twins yet built. The King Air began life as a turboprop development of the Queen Air designed to meet a US Army requirement for a staff/utility transport. A prototype PT6 powered Queen Air Model 65-80 (later 65-90T) began test flying in 1963 and the type was subsequently ordered by the US Army in unpressurised form as the U-21A. The civil equivalent, the Model 90 King Air, introduced pressurisation and first flew on January 20 1964. Deliveries of production civil aircraft began in late 1964. Development resulted in several civil variants, including the A90 and B90 with PT6A-20 engines; the C90 with PT6A-21s; the E90 with more powerful PT6A-34Bs; and the F90 which introduced the T-tail of the 200 (described separately), four blade props and other mods. The less expensive C90SE Special Edition was released during 1994, but is no longer offered. The current C90B has been in production since 1991. The latest variant is the C90B Jaguar Special Edition. Announced in January 1998 it features the Jaguar car company's green and gold colours including the famous leaping cat on the tail and a Connolly leather interior with walnut and boxwood cabinets. In February 1981, Beech became a subsidiary company of Raytheon. In September 1994, Raytheon merged Beech and Corporate Jets (builders of the Hawker 800/1000) into Raytheon Aircraft. The King Air 100 series was announced in May 1969. Compared with the 90 series it was 1.27m (4ft 2in) longer, allowing greater seating capacity, and featured a reduced wing span and larger rudder. The A100 is a military version, while the B100 is powered by 535kW (715shp) Garrett TFE331s. Production of the 100 ceased in 1984.

Performance

Max speed 450km/h (243kt), max cruising speed 435km/h (235kt). Initial rate of climb 1900ft/min. Range with reserves 2520km (1360nm). B100 - Max speed 491km/h (265kt). Initial rate of climb 2140ft/min. Range at max cruising speed 2343km (1264nm), at economical cruising speed 2455km (1325nm). C90B - Max cruising speed 457km/h (247kt). Range at economical cruising speed at 24,000ft 2375km (1282nm).

Weights

Empty equipped 2412kg (5318lb), max takeoff 4218kg (9300lb). B100 - Empty equipped 3212kg (7092lb), max takeoff 5352kg (11,800lb). C90B - Empty 3040kg (6702lb), max takeoff 4580kg (10,100lb).

Dimensions

Wing span 13.98m (45ft 11in), length 10.82m (35ft 6in), height 4.47m (14ft 8in). Wing area 25.9m2 (279.7sq ft). B100 - Wing span 14.00m (45ft 11in), length 12.17m (39ft 11in), height 4.70m (15ft 5in). Wing area 26.0m2 (279.7sq ft). C90B - Wing span 15.32m (50ft 3in), length 10.82m (35ft 6in), height 4.34m (14ft 3in). Wing area 27.3m2 (293.9sq ft).

History

The King Air 200 is a continuation of the King Air line, with new features including the distinctive T tail, more powerful engines, greater wing area and span, increased cabin pressurization, greater fuel capacity and higher operating weights compared to the King Air 100. Beech began design work on the Super King Air 200in October 1970, resulting in the type's first flight on October 27 1972. Certificated in mid-December 1973, the King Air 200 went on to be the most successful aircraft in its class, eclipsing such rivals as the Cessna Conquest and Piper Cheyenne. Today the King Air 200 is the only one of the three in production. The improved B200 entered production in May 1980, this version features more efficient PT6A42 engines, increased zero fuel max weight and increased cabin pressurisation. Sub variants include the B200C with a 1.32m x 1.32m (4ft 4in x 4ft 4in) cargo door, the B200T with removable tip tanks, and the B200CT with tip tanks and cargo door. The Special Edition B200SE was certificated in October 1995 and features an EFIS avionics suite as standard. Various special mission King Air 200s and B200s have been built, including for navaid calibration, maritime patrol and resource exploration. In addition several hundred Super King Airs have been built for the US military under the designation C12. C12s perform a range of missions from electronic surveillance to VIP transport. The 1500th commercial King Air 200 was built in 1995. In 1996 Raytheon dropped the `Super' prefix for all 200, 300 and 350 model King Airs.

Performance

Max speed 536km/h (289kt), max cruising speed 515km/h (278kt). Initial rate of climb 2450ft/min. Range with reserves at max cruising speed 3254km (1757nm), at economical cruising speed 3495km (1887nm). B200 - Max speed 536km/h (289kt), economical cruising speed 523km/h (282kt). Initial rate of climb 2450ft/min. Range with max fuel and reserves 3658km (1974nm) at 31,000ft and economical cruising speed.

Weights

Empty 3318kg (7315lb), max takeoff 5670kg (12,500lb). B200 - Empty 3675kg (8102lb), max takeoff 5670kg (12,500lb).

Dimensions

Wing span 16.61m (54ft 6in), length 13.34m (43ft 9in), height 4.57m (15ft 0in). Wing area 28.2m2 (303.0sq ft).

The King Air 300 is an updated version of the successful B200 series, and it itself was replaced by the further improved King Air350, the latest model in this long running and successful line of corporate and utility transports. Design of an improved development of the successful King Air B200 began in August 1981, the 14 month design effort culminating in the first flight of the modernised 300 model in October the following year. Improvements to the B200 were many, with the main change being the installation of more powerful PT6A60A turboprops in place of the 42s of the earlier model. Other changes included reprofiled and more aerodynamically clean engine cowls and exhausts and extended wing leading edges, plus minor internal changes. Both empty and max takeoff weights were also increased. The max weight was reduced for the 300LW or `Light Weight', intended to minimise the effects of weight based airways user fees, particularly in Europe. The 300AT was an airline pilot trainer. The King Air 300 has been replaced by the 350, its major improvements being a stretched fuselage lengthened by 86cm (2ft 10in) and the addition of winglets. The latest member of the King Air family, it had its first flight in 1988, and has been in production since late 1989. The King Air 350C features a builtin airstair and a 132 x 132cm (52 x 52in) freight door. The 350 is also available in a range of special missions and military variants.

The `Super' prefix was dropped from the King Air name in 1996.

Performance

Max cruising speed 583km/h (315kt), economical cruising speed 568km/h (307kt). Initial rate of climb 2844ft/min. Range with max fuel and reserves 3630km (1960nm). 300LW - Same except for max initial rate of climb 3277ft/min. 350 - Max speed 584km/h (315kt), max cruising speed 576km/h (311kt), typical cruising speed 558km/h (301kt). Initial rate of climb 2731ft/min. Range with four passengers and reserves 3763km (2031nm).

Weights

Empty 3850kg (8490lb), max takeoff 6350kg (14,000lb). 300LW - Empty same, max takeoff 5670kg (12,500lb). 350 - Empty 4096kg (9030lb), max takeoff 6805kg (15,000lb).

Dimensions

300 & 300LW - Wing span 16.61m (54ft 6in), length 13.36m (43ft 10in), height 4.37m (14ft 4in). Wing area 28.2m2 (303sq ft). 350 - Wing span 17.65m (57ft 11in), length 14.22m (46ft 8in), height 4.37m (14ft 4in). Wing area 28.8m2 (310.0sq ft).

History

The PC-12 is a King Air class and size turboprop aimed at corporate transport and regional airliner operators. It is the latest in a line of single engined PT6 powered Pilatus products. Pilatus announced it was developing the PC-12 at the National Business Aircraft Association's annual convention in October 1989. First flight of the first of two prototypes occurred on May 31 1991. Certification was originally planned for mid 1993 but a redesign of the wings with the addition of winglets to ensure performance guarantees were met pushed this back, with Swiss certification awarded on March 30 1994 and US FAA FAR Part 23 approval following on July 15 1994. Compared to the King Air 200 twin, its major competitor, the PC-12's most significant design feature is its use of a single PT6A-67B turboshaft. Internally the PC-12's cabin is also longer (by 6cm/2.4in) and wider (by 15cm/6in) than the King Air 200's, and the same height. The cockpit features EFIS displays and the PC-12is certificated for single pilot operation while each PC-12 built features a standard cargo door in the rear fuselage. Weather radar is an option but has been fitted to all production aircraft thus far. From 1997 the increased 4.5 tonne MTOW has been standard. New, smaller winglets were introduced in 1998. The PC-12 is offered in standard nine seat airliner form, in a four passenger seat/freight combi version and as a six place corporate transport. A pure freighter model is under consideration. The PC-12 Eagle is a military special missions platform. Most PC-12s built thus far have been corporate transports but recent important regulatory changes in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA have cleared single engine turboprops for IFR RPT operations in those nations. This has opened up new potential markets for the PC12 as a regional airliner, replacing older King Airs and elderly piston twins such as the Navajo Chieftain and Cessna 400 series.

Performance

Max cruising speed at 25,000ft 500km/h (270kt), economical cruising speed 430km/h (232kt). Initial rate of climb 1680ft/min. Max operating altitude 30,000ft. Max range at economical cruising speed with VFR reserves 4187km (2260nm). Range at max cruising speed with IFR reserves 2965km (1600nm).

Weights

PC12 - Standard empty 2600kg (5732lb), max takeoff 4500kg (9920lb).

Dimensions

Wing span 16.23m (52ft 3in), length 14.40m (47ft 3in), height 4.27m (14ft 0in). Wing area 25.8m2 (277.8sq ft).