Imagine you are pre-flighting your King Air, checking the oil and the oil is off the stick on one side. After uttering the obligatory expletive, what do you do? If your first instinct is to dump a couple quarts in that engine and check the stick again, chances are you will be wiping oil off…
Ask the Expert: A Supercharger on a King Air?!
Why, yes indeed! All straight 90s, A90s and B90s use a single supercharger, driven by the left engine, as the source of air inflow for cabin pressurization. The PT6A-6 and PT6A-20 engines that these models used had lower compression ratios and delivered less air than later members of the PT6A family, yet in 1971 when…
Aviation Issues: Flight Watch Services Now on 122.2 MHz
As of Sept. 24, flight crews should use the flight service common frequency of 122.2 MHz for flight watch services that were formerly available on 122.0 MHz and Emergency Flight Advisory Service (EFAS), more commonly known as “Flight Watch.” The change means that most pilots will utilize a single frequency for access to all enroute…
BONANZA!
In the wake of World War II, America’s lethargic general aviation market was ripe for an airplane that was fast, comfortable and above all, affordable. Walter H. Beech and his “Beech Boys” answered that call with the all-metal Model 35 “Bonanza.” When the world’s bloodiest conflict ended in 1945, thousands of military pilots returned home…
Value Added: King Air 350 Operators Get Choice of Swept Blade Airplane Propellers from Raisbeck
Raisbeck Engineering has begun FAA certification flight-testing on the first of two brand new Swept Blade Propeller designs for the King Air 350. These airplane propellers incorporate the latest swept blade technology that is also available for King Air 90 and 200 models. The Raisbeck/Hartzell four-bladed Aluminum Swept Blade Propellers are currently in FAA Certification…
Value Added: Ansett Aviation Training in Melbourne Purchases new King Air 350i/B200 Flight Simulator
Ansett Aviation Training has signed an agreement with TRU Simulation + Training for the purchase of a King Air 350i convertible to a B200 full flight simulator, which will be installed in Ansett’s existing pilot training center in Melbourne, Australia. The Melbourne pilot training facility is adding the convertible KA350i/B200 full flight simulator to its…
Technically: Service Bulletins
Service Bulletin 28-4059, Rev. 1: Fuel – Introduction of Improved Fuel Cell Gasket Issued: August 2011, Revised: September 2015 Synopsis of Change: This Service Bulletin has been revised to introduce fuel cell gasket P/N 50-921587-0011 as a replacement for fuel cell gasket P/N 50-921587-7. Fuel cell gasket P/N 50-921587-9, which was introduced in the original…
Meet One of Starship’s “Stars” – Ben’s Life-Saving Flight
Ben Ryder is no stranger to hospitals and surgery. Born with a congenital heart block disorder, Ben was flown to Starship for emergency care when he was less than a day old and had surgery when he was three to have a pacemaker fitted. Fast forward eight years and young Ben is your typically active…
Intensive Care in the Air
King Air 350 becomes air ambulance for Starship Children’s Hospital Almost 25 years ago, New Zealand’s Starship Children’s Hospital was launched as “a culmination of a dream, determination and commitment of a few visionary individuals” who saw the need for a specialist children’s hospital that would provide world-class care to the children of the country.…
Follow-Up: Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 250 awarded type certificate
Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 250 awarded type certificate As reported in a previous issue of King Air magazine, Beechcraft Corporation announced that new production King Air turboprops would feature the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system as standard equipment, as well as enhanced cabin features. This upgrade is progressing as planned, as the…