In the late 1950s, the U.S. Army’s inventory of the versatile L-23/U-8 Seminole series of light military transports ended with introduction of the L-23F – the versatile Beechcraft that set a new standard for fixed-wing Army aviation. Thirteen years after the end of the bloodiest conflict on earth known as World War II, Americans were…
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 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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…