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An Accurate View of Walter H. Beech’s Early Years

An Accurate View of Walter H. Beech’s Early Years

Newly-found photographs and advanced research shed light on the Tennessee farm boy’s initial foray into the world of aviation Editor’s note: I received an email from longtime contributor Edward Phillips excitedly sharing that he’d tracked down rare photographs of Walter H. Beech during World War I. Ed’s hope is that the photographs paired with his…

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview: Fly-in Celebrates Progress of Flight Alongside America’s Semiquincentennial

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview: Fly-in Celebrates Progress of Flight Alongside America’s Semiquincentennial

The heritage, innovation and technological advances of aviation in the U.S. over the past century will be part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention. The 73rd edition of the weeklong event runs July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin – just weeks after July Fourth’s highly-anticipated 250th…

June 2026 Value Added

New Melbourne Service Facility at MEB Expands Textron Aviation’s Support in Australia Textron Aviation announced in early May its new service facility at Essendon Fields Airport (MEB) in Melbourne, Australia, is open and offering factory-direct support for the more than 1,400 Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft operating across the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose-built facility more…

Keeping Your Cool in a King Air

Keeping Your Cool in a King Air

Photos by Clint Goff I’ll never forget flying Saab 340s with American Eagle Airlines many years ago. I flew as a first officer and sweated more than the law should have allowed, not from unrelenting stressful situations but because the Saab 340B was not designed for hot weather. The aircraft is designed and built in…

Eyes on the Prize: Realizing an ownership dream

Eyes on the Prize: Realizing an ownership dream

Ben Whitley is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based civil litigation lawyer who has owned a 1998 Beechcraft King Air C90B since October 2025. This aircraft is a milestone in Whitley’s lifelong interest in aviation and King Airs. “I have always been fascinated with airplanes. All my toys were airplanes and as soon as I could get…

A Look Back at 2026’s Gathering

A Look Back at 2026’s Gathering

Around 70 Beechcraft King Air enthusiasts traveled to Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas Hill Country March 26-28 for the ninth King Air Gathering, bringing together aircraft owners, pilots, operators, maintenance professionals and industry partners. This year’s event was co-hosted by King Air Nation and BLR Aerospace, and 39 vendors participated by setting up booths in…

May 2026 Value Added

May 2026 Value Added

Garmin Adds Airport and FBO Comments Feature to Garmin Pilot Garmin recently announced a new feature for Garmin Pilot Web and iOS platforms: Airport and FBO Comments. This feature allows pilots to leave comments and reviews on airport facilities as well as fixed base operators globally so that other pilots can be better informed of…

May 2026 Aviation Issues

EAA Aviation Museum Schedules New Summer and Fall Special Events for 2026 The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, added four events to its 2026 summer and fall schedule. This year-round museum adjacent to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s headquarters features more than 200 historic airplanes and a range of galleries and exhibits. See eaa.org/eaa-museum for…

Top 10 Stupid King Air Tricks

Top 10 Stupid King Air Tricks

Photos by Clint Goff Type “stupid pet tricks” in your search engine and you’ll be inundated with videos of obsessively cute animals doing some of the dumbest acts that humans have dreamt up. Fortunately, these stupid tricks are entertaining and safe. No one gets hurt, so we smile and go on with life. Doing “stupid”…

Third-party Aircraft Management: Both Parties Beware

Third-party Aircraft Management: Both Parties Beware

King Airs are excellent aircraft commonly operated by a wide range of general aviation participants – from owners who fly the aircraft themselves to companies with professional pilots or aircraft management companies that maintain and operate the aircraft on the owner’s behalf, sometimes for supplemental charter use too. Having a third party, such as an…