Jeff Stewart is the third generation of his family to run Blue Star Gas, and he’s the third generation to be a pilot. He can be credited, though, with being the first to build the family’s propane business around aviation. Using business aviation has propelled Blue Star Gas from 38 employees with five locations when…
In the five years since its doors have been open to the public, The Outsiders House Museum has brought fans of “The Outsiders” from across the globe to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to explore where the 1967 book was written and where the 1983 movie was filmed. Grammy-nominated recording artist Danny Boy O’Connor re-located from Los Angeles…
he 2023 King Air Hall of Fame inductees were announced at the King Air Gathering. Introduced at the 2022 Gathering, this award was long overdue to honor people – past and present – instrumental to building the Beechcraft King Air community. Hall of Fame recipients must meet one of two of the following selection criteria:…
The King Air Gathering (KAG) held April 12-14 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, was considered a success by its new coordinators, King Air Nation. Attendance and sponsorship numbers were up from last year with 132 King Air owners/operators joining the Gathering, along with 31 companions. There were some updates to the…
I’d like to tell you a few interesting things that I have experienced over the years involving flaps. I hope you will find them interesting and educational. Let me begin by reviewing the basic flap system design in King Airs and, with minor changes, in most other Beechcraft airplanes. The semi-fowler flaps – ones that…
The Beechcraft Model 17 was not only Walter Beech’s bestselling airplane during the late 1930s, but it proved to be a military workhorse that served the Allied nations with distinction during World War II. Walter Herschel Beech was a salesman – a very good salesman. He and his wife, Olive Ann, had co-founded the Beech…
CenTex Aerospace announced the availability of the Halo 350 increased gross weight conversion for the Beechcraft King Air 350 and King Air 360. The Halo 350 conversion increases the maximum takeoff weight limit from 15,000 to 15,950 lbs. Aircraft empty weight is increased only 4 lbs., which equates to an increase in payload or fuel of 946…
Raisbeck Engineering recently announced it has received FAA STC approval for the installation of Raisbeck/Hartzell five blade swept turboprop propellers on heavyweight (16,500 lb.) King Air 300, 350 and 360 series aircraft. The Raisbeck/Hartzell five blade swept turboprop propellers offer improved aircraft performance. This includes increased thrust and cruise speeds, decreased noise levels, and improved…
PWI has expanded the already-PMA approved bayonet mount LED Ice Light product and is now offering a new PMA-approved version which features a threaded mount. This product illuminates the leading edge of the wing to aid in detecting ice formation. The light performance has received much positive feedback relating to light output and longevity. Owner/operators…
SmartSky Networks, the innovative air-to-ground (ATG) in-flight connectivity provider, announced the launch of SmartSky Private Intranet (PI) routing powered by its Skytelligence services platform. The PI is deployed using an aircraft interface device (AID) and routes data traffic privately to and from the aircraft utilizing SmartSky’s next-generation network and patented beamforming technology that assigns a separate…