Current Issue – King Air Magazine

June 2026 Value Added

New Melbourne Service Facility at MEB Expands Textron Aviation’s Support in Australia Textron Aviation announced in early May its new service facility at Essendon Fields Airport (MEB) in Melbourne, Australia, is open and offering factory-direct support for the more than 1,400 Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft operating across the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose-built facility more…

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview: Fly-in Celebrates Progress of Flight Alongside America’s Semiquincentennial

The heritage, innovation and technological advances of aviation in the U.S. over the past century will be part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention. The 73rd edition of the weeklong event runs July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin – just weeks after July Fourth’s highly-anticipated 250th…

An Accurate View of Walter H. Beech’s Early Years

Newly-found photographs and advanced research shed light on the Tennessee farm boy’s initial foray into the world of aviation Editor’s note: I received an email from longtime contributor Edward Phillips excitedly sharing that he’d tracked down rare photographs of Walter H. Beech during World War I. Ed’s hope is that the photographs paired with his…

A Remarkable Flight: A Wright Brothers Master Pilot reflects on 67 years as a pilot

For 90-year-old Carey Hobbs, flying has never been just a pastime – it is a way to serve, to connect, to explore. He discovered his love for the skies as a Marine aviator and has been a pilot for 67 years, owning two Beechcraft King Air aircraft in his lifetime: the A90 he flew for…

Can You Hear Me Now?

Photos by Clint Goff Of the five senses that humans possess, which one is most important when flying? Which is the least important? I’d argue that taste is the least important, unless we are including the cookies at the Wilson FBO at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (KCHA). That leaves sight, hearing, smell and touch. Sight…

Part 2: King Air Fuel Quantity Indicating

In the April issue we started our dive into the fuel quantity indicating system by focusing on insulation testing the system. That should always be your first step because if you can locate insulation or wiring issues (even if you need to replace wires or splices), there’s no need to be concerned with system calibration…