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…
West Star Aviation has announced the recertification for both their East Alton, Illinois, (ALN) and Houston, Texas, (CXO) facilities as Mexican AFAC Repair Stations. This replaces the DGAC Certificate originally issued and provides safety and certification continuity between the FAA and Mexican aviation authorities. West Star’s Grand Junction, Colorado, (GJT) facility was originally certified from…
Stevens Aerospace announces that all four of the company’s MRO facilities have been designated as authorized installation centers for the highly regarded PRIZM LED Cabin Lighting systems. The LED lights last 10 to 15 times longer than the more expensive florescent tubes which provides a considerably less cost of ownership. PRIZM’s customizable full-color LED spectrum…
For the last few years, I have had the honor of being asked to write an article about the King Air market, and each February I dutifully sit down and peck the keys, but by the time my article makes it to print, something crazy happens! Two years ago, I wrote about the stability of…
If you are not currently flying a member of the 200-series family, up to serial number BB-1459, then this article is not for you. You won’t hurt my feelings if you immediately jump to the next article in this magazine. But since this quite important topic applies to well over 1,000 airplanes, I think it…
After six years of tremendous success designing, manufacturing and selling airplanes, the Travel Air Company and its leader, Walter H. Beech, became cogs in the aeronautical wheel of fortune known as the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Late in 1929, only months before the stock market collapse on Wall Street, an organization was formed by the merger of…
King Air interior lighting specialists, PWI, recently announced the FAA Approval of their Window Light LED Upgrade on B200/250 models. This STC approval was highly welcomed by the company as well as King Air B200/250 operators as it has already been certified for all other King Air models. The LED upgrade easily replaces the installed…
Garmin® International Inc. announced that the popular GI 275 electronic flight instrument has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval, allowing installation in over 1,000 single-engine and multi-engine aircraft models. Several variants of the GI 275 are available to meet the needs of business and general aviation aircraft. A powerful electronic flight instrument, the…