Last month’s article described the King Air’s reversing propellers and made the statement: A pilot cannot force the propeller to reverse; he can only allow it to do so. Reversing is accomplished by repositioning the propeller’s Low Pitch Stop (LPS). Therefore, unless the propeller’s blade angle is being determined by the LPS, then the blades…
Never content to rest on its laurels, in 1966 the Beech Aircraft Corporation launched a series of upgrades to the new King Air that drew increased sales from business aviation and military customers. By 1965, Beechcraft dealers and distributors were selling the Model 90 at an accelerated pace. Not only was the turboprop-powered airplane proving…
West Star Aviation has recently introduced some changes that will be beneficial to aircraft owners. The company will be expanding second shifts at their four full-service locations at the St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN), Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Perryville Regional Airport (PCD) and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) to improve overall efficiency and reduce turn…
Garmin® International, Inc. recently introduced new models of its GSB™ 15, a powerful USB charger designed for a wide range of aircraft, now available with 27W USB Type-C charging ports. While maintaining the same compact and lightweight design, the new GSB 15 models include two USB ports that support up to 27W of power output…
While King Airs are flown at several colleges across the country in faculty and staff transport roles, there are several aviation programs that offer training in some model of twin turboprop to their students. Among the short list of schools operating these aircraft are the University of Oklahoma and the University of North Dakota, both…
When you reach max power during takeoff, you’ve got your eye on the ITT and torque. If ITT is high but torque is lagging, you might worry that a hot section problem has developed in the engine. Before leaping to that conclusion, however, consider the compressor bleed valve(s). All PT6 engines have at least one…
Reversing propellers made their appearance on the King Air A90 that ushered in the 1966 model year. The Straight 90 model of 1964 and 1965 utilized non-reversing propellers similar to those that were installed on the Lycoming-powered Queen Airs being concurrently produced. As one would expect, reversing propellers were a big hit and although they…
As the decade of the 1960s unfolded, business aviation in America was poised to make a major transition from piston-powered to turbine-powered airplanes. Beech Aircraft Corporation would lead that transition by introducing the Model 65-90 – the first King Air. In 1961 Olive Ann Beech listened intently to her loyal corps of vice presidents and…
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Certification of the newly upgraded Beechcraft twin turboprop King Air 260. Manufacturer Textron Aviation says the King Air 260 combines the platform’s rich history of rugged reliability and versatility with state-of-the-art upgrades and next-generation capability, offering a greater ease of flying. The upgraded cockpit features the Innovative Solutions…
Textron Aviation announced FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for the new Beechcraft King Air Ground Cooling aftermarket upgrade for the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series turboprops. The Ground Cooling system enables King Air operators to cool the cabin before crew and passengers board, by plugging in a Ground Power Unit (GPU) eliminating…