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
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
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…
The Mind That Unleashed GPS: Remembering Gladys West’s remarkable mathematical skill
The older (or should we call them vintage?) pilots will tell you how easy it is to navigate these days, with inexpensive GPS systems in our phones, electronic tablets and cockpits. We only need to look for the little airplane icon to see we’re over the Wabash River and the nearest airport is 4 miles…
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…
Don’t Fence Him In: Texas fence builder finds a King Air A90 fits his mission
After a few particularly long drives across the state of Texas, Cuatro Strack decided to pursue earning a private pilot certificate. Now nearly 20 years later, the South Texas-based aviator owns a 1967 King Air A90 (serial LJ-260). Strack currently flies the twin turboprop in support of his fence-building business as well as for personal…
He Says, She Says: Two opinions on the first real-world Garmin Autoland activation
In another installment of their He Said, She Said series (see the May 2025 issue of King Air magazine), Joe and Deanna Casey offer their reactions to and takeaways from the late December activation of Garmin’s automated landing system in a Beechcraft King Air 200. Read their differing views below and weigh in by sending…
Garmin Autoland Achieves First Confirmed In-service Activation: King Air B200 pilots consciously allowed automated landing after pressurization event in Colorado
The first confirmed in-service activation of Garmin’s Autoland set the general aviation community abuzz in late December and offered confirmation that the automated landing system can deploy as designed in an actual emergent situation. A 1984 Beechcraft King Air B200 (N479BR, serial number BB-1179) unexpectedly demonstrated the technology that won the 2020 Robert J. Collier…
Props Forward or Not? Know why you do what you do
Photos by Clint Goff Every King Air pilot has been there. We are on a stable approach, the gear is down, the flaps are down, the power is set perfectly and the approach speed is dialed in with a perfect torque setting. We then look at the Caution/Advisory Panel and see the RVS NOT RDY…