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‘This Aircraft  Deserved It’ – Commemorative 1982 Model F90 Gets Full Makeover

‘This Aircraft Deserved It’ – Commemorative 1982 Model F90 Gets Full Makeover

Are they making the Beechcraft King Air F90 again? That’s the question David and Shawn Edgington hope to inspire when you see N721RF/serial number LA-190 sitting on the ramp. A gleaming paint scheme with a playful color palette, BLR Aerospace five-bladed Whisper Props, American Aviation’s Pitot Cowling System and Aerodynamic Speed Stacks – the airplane…

Tracing Our Roots: Flying and Touring the Natchez Trace, Part 2

Tracing Our Roots: Flying and Touring the Natchez Trace, Part 2

Author’s Note: In Part 1, we explored many sites along the northern three-quarters of the Natchez Trace full of rich history. In this final installment, we’ll wrap up the tour, covering the southernmost 100 miles of the route, some nearby attractions and the city for which the Trace is named.  If you recall from Part…

Summer Heat and  Engine Problems

Summer Heat and Engine Problems

Recently, hot weather has been a top news story all over the United States. Areas that don’t normally see triple-digit temperatures have been getting a taste of what we deal with every summer in the desert Southwest. This got me thinking about an engine problem that can crop up when the OAT is scorching hot.…

The History of King Air Chip Detector Annunciator Lights

In the early days of the King Air and PT6 engines, back in the ’60s and early ’70s, there was no such thing as chip detectors. The low spot near the bottom of the reduction gearbox (RGB) at the front of the engine had a drain plug only. The plug was not fitted with any…

SmartSky® Receives STC for King Air  Models B200 through 360 

SmartSky® Receives STC for King Air Models B200 through 360 

SmartSky, provider of the most advanced inflight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, announced the issuance of an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for SmartSky LITE on the King Air 350i. The certificate covers installation of the award-winning inflight Wi-Fi system for King Air models B200, B200C, B200GT, 250, 250C, 250EP, 260, 260C, 300, 350,…

Textron Aviation Bolsters Support in the United Kingdom and Ireland through Gama Aviation (UK) Limited

Textron Aviation Inc. announced recently that it is expanding its relationship with longtime channel partner Gama Aviation. Newly designated as an Authorized Sales Representative (ASR) for Textron Aviation Special Missions aircraft in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Gama Aviation will now feature special missions variants of the entire portfolio of Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft. This…

New TC-Approved King Air Flap Roller Bearings Improve Aviation Safety and Reliability

Marsh Brothers Aviation (MBA), a leading manufacturer of advanced polymer seal and bearing solutions for the aviation industry, has received Transport Canada approval for its innovative new King Air Flap Roller Bearing. The revolutionary new product – the first polymer bearing solution Marsh Brothers Aviation has developed for commercial aircraft – solves a critical maintenance…

Conidia Debuts Jet Fuel Contamination Test Kit

Conidia Bioscience has introduced a test kit that will rapidly detect microbial contamination in jet fuel. The Fuelstat One test can be used throughout the entire fuel supply chain, from storage terminal to wing tank, offering a comprehensive overview of the fuel’s quality. The simple, rapid lateral flow test can be conducted on free water or…

Tracing Our Roots – Flying and Touring the Natchez Trace, Part 1

Tracing Our Roots – Flying and Touring the Natchez Trace, Part 1

As pilots, we all share a common interest in modern transport. Often, we fly just for fun, feeding our passion to be airborne. However, King Air category aircraft are primarily a means of rapid transport. They are magic carpets that, in a matter of hours, cover distances that once took weeks, months or even a…

Affected Operators Should Act Now on Expanded SMS Mandate

Affected Operators Should Act Now on Expanded SMS Mandate

Per the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rule expanding safety management systems (SMS) to Part 135 on-demand operators, certain Part 21 certificate holders and 91.147 air tour operations may pose challenges to business aircraft operators as they work to adapt the rule’s requirements to their specific operations. The 160-page…