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Old Stories

Old Stories

I thought you might enjoy reading about some memories I have of a couple of events in my life … tied to King Airs, of course! I think it was 1974; I was in my third year as a ground and flight instructor at the Beechcraft Training Center in Wichita and the center’s manager, Don…

New Location for AD Databases, Canadian ADS-B Out Mandate Schedule & Northeast Corridor ACR

New Location for AD Databases The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed a new site for several of its Airworthiness Directives (AD) databases.  Effective Aug. 16, 2022, Emergency Airworthiness Directives (EAD), Airworthiness Directives (AD) and Airworthiness Directives: Biweekly (AD Biweekly) will only be available by going to the recently developed Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) at…

Bygone  Beechcrafts – Part One

Bygone Beechcrafts – Part One

Throughout its 84-year history, Beech Aircraft Corporation designed and built a number of experimental airplanes intended to set the pace for competitors to follow. Some designs eventually took wing, but others never made it past the drawing board and faded into obscurity. In 1940, Walter Beech’s chief engineer, Theodore “Ted” Wells, and his staff were…

Momentum building for McCauley Propeller’s King Air B300 aftermarket solution

McCauley Propeller Systems recently announced that testing is rapidly progressing on its new 105-inch diameter propeller, featuring four aluminum swept blades for the Beechcraft King Air B300 series aircraft. The company says the new propellers will reduce noise in the cabin and cockpit, and provide a weight savings of more than 50 pounds per aircraft thereby…

New Garmin Pilot Features Include Graphical W&B and Enhancements for European Users

Garmin International Inc. announced the addition of new features to the Garmin Pilot™ application for iPad® or iPhone® mobile devices. The new enhancements include the graphical weight & balance feature, support for the uAvionix Sky Echo 2 has been added and additional documents are now available within the document viewer for European users. Graphical weight &…

Elliott Aviation Adds Fifth Location with Dallas-Based MRO

Elliott Aviation is expanding its nationwide footprint. The company recently announced the addition of its fifth MRO location with the recent acquisition of Four Points Aero on Love Field (DAL) in Dallas, Texas.  Elliott Aviation is an authorized service center for several airframes, including the King Air. The new facility at DAL delivers full-service airframe,…

Beauty Abound – 350ER Polar Circumnavigation Puts the World in Perspective

Beauty Abound – 350ER Polar Circumnavigation Puts the World in Perspective

Circling the globe in a Beechcraft King Air on an extended five-month mission is a profound and addictive pursuit. Talking with Inuit people living in the stunning remoteness of Canada’s massive but sparsely populated northern territory of Nunavut.  The happy greeting with smiles visible through hazmat suits in Bangkok, Thailand, after getting the sense an…

Nose Tire Going Flat?

Nose Tire Going Flat?

I got a call from a King Air B200 owner/operator. He had been a regular customer of mine when I had my maintenance shop, but we hadn’t spoke for several years. He always made time to chat with me whenever dropping off or picking up his King Air, and I was glad to hear from…

Aviation Business Associations Supporting the Industry

NBAA President Details Items to Strengthen Aviation to Congress The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen recently detailed for Congress a policy roadmap for strengthening the general aviation sector in the U.S. and around the world, today and in the years to come. In testimony before the U.S. House Committee on…

King Air Crossfeed Basics

King Air Crossfeed Basics

My aim in writing this article is not to present anything new but rather to simply review some of the fuel system information that you should have already received. I am sure the fuel system was covered extensively in your initial King Air training course and, if you have been flying King Airs for a…