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The Air Capital of the World: Beginnings

The Air Capital of the World: Beginnings

A year after the end of World War I, a talented aircraft designer from Chicago and a roustabout from the oil fields of Kansas transformed a sleepy city on the Plains into the epicenter of America’s general aviation aircraft industry The question has often been asked, “Why Wichita?” What has made that city, long hailed…

Value Added: StandardAero Launches PT6A FASTLANE™ Engine Maintenance Program for Hot Section Inspections, Repair and On-Site Services

StandardAero has launched a new, customized accelerated response program to support PT6A turboprop engine operators with hot section inspections, repairs and on-site field services. This new program includes but is not limited to, on-wing inspections by a certified StandardAero Field Service Representative (FSR), Service Center support and OEM approved repairs. The company chose the term…

Value Added: Luma Technologies Receives EASA Certification for LED Annunciator Panels on King Airs and FAA Certification of LED Glareshield Washlight Kits for C90

Luma Technologies has obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the installation of its LT-4500 Series LED Caution Warning Annunciator Panels on a broad range of King Air models. With this STC, any fleet operator or authorized dealer can install the panels in accordance with EASA guidelines. The STC covers seven different panel sizes…

Value Added: West Star Aviation Announces Mobile Response Team Field Support

West Star Aviation is proud to announce their Mobile Response Team “MRT” supported by a wide network of MRO facilities and support shops. The company says the MRT allows it to deliver their award-winning service and experience to customers when and where it’s needed. The MRT provides “in-the-field-level” repairs and modifications as well as temporary…

Value Added: FlyRight Adds King Air 350 Part 135 Training and Receives Commuter Category Qualification for King Air 200 Series

FlyRight has added the capability to provide training and checking services to King Air 300/350 Part 135 operators. Training programs include Initial BE-300 Type Rating and Recurrent courses with Part 135 checks. FlyRight, an FAA-certificated Part 142 training center specializing in King Air pilot training, began offering King Air 350 training and Type Ratings in…

Value Added: LoPresti BoomBeam HID Lights Now Available in Australia

Australian Avionics recently became the Elite Dealer for LoPresti Aviation BoomBeam HID lighting in Australia. The BoomBeam lights are FAA- and EASA-Approved for all King Air Models, and are said to produce 1300% more light than standard aircraft lighting. For more information, visit: http://www.loprestiaviation.com/

In the Know: A Recap of King Air News from NBAA

In the Know: A Recap of King Air News from NBAA

The debut and announcement of new airplane models often dominate the headlines at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition, but this year there was also plenty of news regarding Beechcraft King Airs at the Nov. 17-19 event in Las Vegas. Among the estimated 26,000 attendees, 1,100 exhibits and 100 aircraft on…

The Vanishing Jewel: Flying to and Touring Glacier National Park, Part One

The Vanishing Jewel: Flying to and Touring Glacier National Park, Part One

In cruise flight, we had reached the halfway point across the expansive width of Montana. The smoke that had been looming ahead, obscuring the western horizon in a thick and dingy haze, was now upon us and reduced forward visibility to almost nil. Peering out the side window and downward, the terrain features were visible…

Ask the Expert: Answers to a Variety of Good Questions from Readers

I always appreciate when readers of our magazine take the time to contact Kim Blonigen, our editor, with operational questions they would like me to address. I try to reply as rapidly as possible to the person who is posing the question. Sometimes, ideas for an entire article or two are prompted by the question(s), whereas…

Maintenance Tip: One for the Books

Along-time, out-of-state customer called to say his R/H generator went offline mid-flight. He’s got an F90, but this could happen to any King Air. For troubleshooting purposes, I suggested he swap the GCUs (Generator Control Unit) to see if the problem went to the other side, and it did. I had an exchange GCU drop-shipped…