The Hartzell Service Center in Piqua, Ohio, is introducing a purchasing program for used serviceable propeller cores and serialized parts directly from aircraft owners, fleets and MROs. The enhancement aims to help reduce overhaul lead times, while giving customers more buying options when acquiring parts. At Hartzell’s discretion, customers can reduce the purchase price of…
Western Aircraft Now a Starlink Dealer and Installer for King Air 200 & 300
Western Aircraft of Boise, Idaho, has officially become an authorized dealer and installer for Starlink, the satellite-based internet service developed by SpaceX. Starlink’s technology enables inflight 4K video calls, streaming, online gaming and secure virtual private network (VPN) connections. With more than 6,000 satellites in low Earth orbit and more being launched regularly, Starlink boasts…
Aero Center Atlanta Joins SmartSky® Dealer Network
SmartSky recently announced that Aero Center Atlanta has joined the SmartSky dealer network as a sales and installation partner. With seven FBO locations across the U.S., Aero Center is a full-service management, charter and FBO provider, which also offers Part 145 maintenance services – including connectivity upgrades for business aircraft – at the Atlanta location.…
Meet the Herr Family Truckster – Their King Air 350 proves ideal for family vacations
Three weeks after purchasing a 1996 Beechcraft King Air 350 in the summer of 2017, Daniel Herr was off on the first of many grand family vacations. His family of four took off from their home airport of Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, headed for a West Coast adventure. He had ideal weather…
King Air Gathering IN REVIEW – by Sara Katherine Waller
The 2024 King Air Gathering (KAG), held May 15 – 18, was unforgettable, bringing together King Air owners, operators, pilots, mechanics and enthusiasts from around the globe. Hosted by King Air Nation and co-host BLR Aerospace at the historic Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, this year’s Gathering was a success and possibly…
Grease is Good
Take a look at the wheel bearing in Figure 1 (below) – it’s dry as a bone – there’s not a speck of grease or lubrication to be found. It looks like it sat in a solvent tank for a month, then tossed on a junk pile. The crazy thing is this wheel bearing came…
FAA Reauthorization Act Signed into Law
President Biden signed the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, May 16, which renews authority for the agency for the next five years and invests in air travel infrastructure nationwide. Regarding the passage of the bill, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “Both sides of the aisle, on both sides of…
“Help! I can’t get my King Air’s autopilot to fly wings level.”
This article’s title pertains to a somewhat common request that I have received over the years of my King Air training career: Help me find a fix for the autopilot. Even when no question has been asked, I find that quite often when I ride as an instructor or passenger in a King Air, I…
D&J Aviation Joins SmartSky® Installation Network Installs SmartSky LITE™ on King Air C90
SmartSky, provider of inflight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, announced D&J Aviation as a new sales and installation partner. D&J recently completed a first-article installation of the award-winning SmartSky LITE™ on a Beechcraft King Air C90 with a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) expected in the coming months. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, D&J is…
ForeFlight’s 16.4 Allows Smoother Flying
ForeFlight’s latest release – 16.4 – features a Reported Turbulence Map Layer, U.S. Lowest-Tilt Radar and more.