In its ongoing quest to develop improved versions of the highly successful King Air platform, Beech Aircraft Corporation once again dipped into its “recipe” book and blended the best of the Model 90 and the Model 99 to create the Model 100 – flagship of the Beechcraft fleet. By the late 1960s, Olive Ann Beech…
Textron Aviation recently released the Customer Portal Dashboard (https://ww2.txtav.com/Dashboard). The company says this update allows customers to customize their tools and request access to all aspects of the Customer Portal through one, easy-to-use webpage. The tiled Dashboard includes direct links to Billing Management, Parts & Claims, Program Balances, Service Management, Technical Publications and EProcurement. Service…
Grmin® International, Inc. recently announced TXi™ engine indication system (EIS) support for select twin turboprop aircraft including the King Air 90 series. Twin turbine aircraft owners and operators will benefit from TXi EIS with features such as engine timers, exceedance recordings, dynamic engine indications, as well as wireless data logging that combine to reduce pilot…
Genesys Aerosystems recently announced an update to its S-TEC 3100 autopilot. Referenced as Version 1.4, it comprises of both software and hardware changes. The new hardware features a white backlit display perfect for bright sunlit panels or steep viewing angles. An updated bezel accompanies the change in display and features an optional VNAV button or…
Following the STC approval from Transport Canada in February 2021, Marsh Brothers Aviation has secured FAA approval for their Beech® brake master cylinder upgrade/repair kit. The Marsh Brothers kit offers an upgraded lip seal which replaces the piston wiper and O-ring with a single seal/wiper. The single lip seal replaces two elements of the original…
Blackhawk Aerospace announced recently that it has expanded its portfolio of products and services. Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (BAT), a newly formed business entity, has acquired all assets from Columbia Avionics & Aircraft Services, Inc. based at the Columbia, Missouri, Regional Airport (KCOU). Columbia Avionics has been in business since 1995 working to develop new…
When Textron Aviation asked the Stefanopoulos family if they would consider changing their order for a Beechcraft King Air 350i to be the first customer to take delivery of the upgraded King Air 360, it was easy to say yes. The only question they had was why the company chose them since they are “just…
Space is limited and over half the available spots have already been filled for the 2021 King Air Gathering (KAG) being held Sept. 23-26 at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee. If you are thinking you might like to attend, you may not want to wait much longer to register. Below is a summary…
The rate of oil consumption on a PT6 engine is a vital statistic for proper maintenance and accurate troubleshooting. Pratt & Whitney’s guideline regarding oil consumption for PT6s is 1 quart for every 10 hours of operation. This rate of consumption is the maximum allowable and it applies to every type of PT6 engine found…
I sometimes get questions along the lines of “Why doesn’t my King Air have the rudder boost system?” Many pilots flying an E90 or C90 receive a demo flight in a newer C90GTx and observe that the newer model has rudder boost whereas their airplanes do not. “It must be due to the higher power…