Blog : article

What’s UP With the King Air Market?

What’s UP With the King Air Market?

Each January I sit down to write the annual article on the King Air market and each year I wonder how different the market may look by the time it is published – and by the time you, the reader, are reading these words. First, a look back at 2025 I’ll start with a recap…

Habituation: An Old Term With a New Application

Embracing the new, seeking quality initial training and practicing are keys It has been fun for me to be reintroduced into the world of pistols. As a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, my assigned weapon was the Beretta M9 (9mm) for my entire 26-year military career. I was reasonably good at shooting it on…

Making Friends With Queen Air C-FWZG: Flying airborne geophysical survey missions in the King Air’s foremother

Making Friends With Queen Air C-FWZG: Flying airborne geophysical survey missions in the King Air’s foremother

The instant the water bottle touched my lips, gusts generated by stone-walled castles and manors below our 50-foot, 6-inch two-spar wing forced the container airborne. Beside me, in the aircraft’s 266-cubic-foot interior, the copilot’s seeping airsickness bag flopped onto the floor and split. Steady on heading, I contemplated why I happened to be 400 feet…

First Woman to Solo in the USA: Blanche Scott or Bessie Raiche?

First Woman to Solo in the USA: Blanche Scott or Bessie Raiche?

Just seven years after the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, two women joined the ranks of American aviators. Blanche Scott and Bessie Raiche each made solo flights in 1910, the first women in America to do so. Today, historians are fairly certain that Blanche flew before Bessie, but in 1910, there was some confusion…

Technically

Textron Aviation Mandatory Service Letter MTL-27-05: Flight Controls – Elevator Bellcrank Inspection Published date: Feb. 10, 2026 Effectivity: F90 S/Ns LA-2 thru LA-236; 200/B200 S/Ns BB-2 thru BB-2019; 200C/B200C S/Ns BL-1 thru BL-171; 200T/B200T S/Ns BT-1 thru BT-43; 200CT/B200CT SNs BN-1 thru BN-4; B200GT S/Ns BY-1 and on; B200CGT S/Ns BZ-1 and on; 300 S/Ns…

Head Out on the Highway – Legendary Route 66 turns 100

Head Out on the Highway – Legendary Route 66 turns 100

Hundreds of communities across eight states are planning events and activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, a historic federal highway synonymous with freedom and adventure. Designated as U.S. Highway 66 on April 30, 1926, the highway connected Chicago and Los Angeles, providing a reliable route through the Midwest. Officially established on Nov.…

Agenda Announced  for 2026 Gathering

Agenda Announced for 2026 Gathering

by King Air Gathering organizers King Air Gathering co-hosts King Air Nation and BLR Aerospace have announced the speakers, companion activities and a full list of educational and networking events attendees can expect during the 2026 King Air Gathering happening March 26-28 in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. KAG’s venue is Horseshoe Bay Resort, featuring Texas Hill…

Recognizing a Runaway: Most don’t. Can you?

Recognizing a Runaway: Most don’t. Can you?

Nope, we are not talking about George Clooney and his band of runaway felons in the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” In that movie the felons wore striped clothing and were easy to recognize. They ran across fields in chains, somehow found their way to a microphone to sing some really great music on…

The New (Old) Kid on the Block: Keith Temperature Control

With the retirement of our much-loved author of Maintenance Tips, Dean Benedict, I’ve been given the honor of becoming a maintenance columnist for King Air magazine. I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of great authorities like Dean and Tom Clements, and I hope you’ll enjoy what I bring to the table. A brief background…