By 1933 the Beech Aircraft Company was starved for cash and the future looked dim until a Texas oilman plunked down $12,000 for a custom-built Beechcraft. After more than one year in business, Walter H. Beech had yet to sell an airplane bearing his name. He had flown many demonstration flights in the first Beechcraft,…
Textron Aviation recently announced it has established Textron Aviation Canada, Ltd., a new wholly-owned subsidiary focused on expanding the company’s service network. The first phase of the expansion includes the acquisition of assets of Aspect Aircraft Maintenance, Inc., an aircraft maintenance and repair provider in Calgary, Canada, where a Textron Aviation Mobile Service Unit (MSU) currently operates,…
Garmin has announced expanded pilot training opportunities for 2019 to include additional classes throughout the United States and more instructor-led courses. These training classes include GTN 650/750 touch-screen navigator series, the G500 TXi/G600 TXi and G500/G600 flight display systems, Garmin Integrated Flight Decks, and the GWX aviation weather radar. The training provides pilots with a…
Wherever you are in the world, there’s likely a Beechcraft King Air near you that is flying under the coordination of the United States Army Operational Support Airlift Activity (OSA-A). OSA-A plans, coordinates and conducts non-executive airlift for soldiers, civilians and light cargo for the Army, the Department of Defense and other government agencies. The…
The King Air Academy’s third King Air Gathering (KAG) was the largest one yet with 80 people attending and 42 King Airs flying in that filled the ramp at Gillespie County Airport (T82). Held Sept. 28-29, 2018, the Hangar Hotel and Conference Center located on T82 at Fredericksburg, Texas, was the perfect setup to hold…
I am continuing more of my personal King Air “war stories” for this month’s article. Automatic Unfeathering We all know how worthwhile the wonderful King Air autofeather system is, right? What you may not realize, however, is that numerous King Airs also have an automatic unfeathering system. This first came to light for me when we…
Late in 1928 Walter H. Beech authorized development of the four-place Type 10 cabin monoplane, but by 1930 America’s deepening economic debacle had almost wiped out the once booming market for new airplanes. Fact: The aviation business is cyclical. Any pilot, mechanic, airframe or engine manufacturer, as well as companies operating under FAR Part 91,…
Garmin International, Inc. announced the initial phase of integration between the Garmin Pilot™ app and the FltPlan.com web portal. As a result of Garmin’s acquisition of FltPlan.com in August, both companies have made rapid progress in merging portfolios. Beginning in mid-October, pilots can use FltPlan.com for pre-flight planning and filing, and automatically view the same…
Aviation Fabricators (AvFab) has officially become an Authorized PWI Products Distributor for the entire line of LED lighting products. PWI is excited to join forces with AvFab, an FAA/CRS and FAA/PMA authorized company. AvFab offers customers a variety of products ranging from Special Missions upgrades and aftermarket seating upgrades to their famous pleated window shades.…
FlyRight, an FAA-approved Part-142 pilot Training Center has partnered with Blackhawk Modifications to provide simulator-based training services for owners and operators of aircraft equipped with industry-leading Blackhawk Engine+ Upgrades. FlyRight currently provides initial and recurrent pilot training for the Beechcraft King Air 90 through 350 series. FlyRight has incorporated Blackhawk’s per-formance advantages into their simulator…