In the realms of high-speed thrills and engineering marvels, few names evoke as much excitement as the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. The Dodge Demon symbolizes raw power, impeccable design and unparalleled performance. Now, imagine translating that legacy into the skies. Enter the King Air Demon Project—an endeavor to showcase the King Air as the muscle car of the aviation industry.
This project highlights the endless capabilities of the Beechcraft King Air while capturing the essence of the Dodge Demon’s personality and power. The result is a statement of style, performance and innovation that challenges traditional boundaries by incorporating design elements and performance features typically found in high-end muscle cars into the King Air framework.
For aviation enthusiasts, the King Air Demon represents a seamless fusion of advanced engineering and a nod to the design that makes muscle cars so iconic. This aircraft is not just about flying but redefining what an aircraft can be. It pushes the boundaries of aviation while combining the precision of flight with the bold innovation of the automotive industry.
Here’s a look at the key players involved with this collaboration.
The Birth of the Demon Project
“The inspiration behind the King Air Demon Project came from wanting to highlight King Air as the muscle car of the aviation world,” said Carl Davis, vice president of King Air Nation (KAN), a company that specializes in parts, engines and aircraft sales, and is also host of the King Air Gathering. “We saw the opportunity to be creative with an aircraft that would perform superbly and captivate the imagination of anyone who sees it.”
King Air Nation purchased the 1981 B200 from Haven Aviation Services Group in 2023. The team at Haven ASG installed BLR winglets and Raisbeck’s 200 Series EPIC Platinum Performance Package before the aircraft left the Amarillo, Texas, facility. The Raisbeck modifications included leading edges, crown wing lockers, main landing gear doors and four-blade swept propellers.
“As soon as Carl told us what he needed an aircraft for, we were all in on the project,” said Travis Lamance, CEO of Haven ASG. “Carl and the team at KAN are so fun to work with and the process of acquiring the right aircraft and the subsequent process of accomplishing the long list of modifications was great. Our maintenance mods team did an outstanding job of fitting the BLR winglets and all the Raisbeck modifications. The coordination and communication between KAN, BLR, Raisbeck and the Haven team was top-shelf, which always makes for a very exciting and fun project … It’s not often that a special project like this comes along and we could not have been happier to play a part in the birth of the King Air Demon.”
While the aircraft was receiving the upgrades and mods via Haven ASG, the design concepts began back at KAN headquarters in Brandon, Mississippi. King Air Nation embarked on the visionary project with a clear objective in mind: to create a King Air as stunning and captivating as the Dodge Demon, inside and out.
David Johnson, marketing director at King Air Nation, said the project had ambitious creative needs, from the initial task of creating countless design renderings for the paint shop to hours devoted to perfecting the smallest details. “We even went as far as hiring an interior designer to conceptualize the aircraft’s interior, which turned out to be outstanding,” Johnson said.
Flex Aero Aircraft Painting and Interior
Once the concepts were decided by King Air Nation, they were handed off to Florida-based Flex Aero Aircraft Painting and Interior for the finalizing of the designs and the intricate painting process.
“Painting a metallic-colored airplane requires precision and expertise to ensure the finish is not only visually stunning but also aerodynamically efficient and durable against the elements,” said Sabrina Satler, CEO of Flex Aero. Despite a humorous nod to the “Demon” featured on the aircraft, the team dedicatedly prayed over the project.
The exterior paint process took a little less than eight weeks. Due to the extended drying time required for metallic colors, Flex Aero had to wait a few extra days before starting the stripe layout process. Below is a description of each step involved:
Inspection and Preparation
Upon arrival, the aircraft undergoes a thorough inspection for any signs of damage.
All surface controls are removed to facilitate the process.
Protection and Stripping
Areas not to be stripped are covered with chemical-resistant tape and paper to protect them during the stripping and cleaning phase.
The aircraft is then stripped using a liquid stripper.
Sanding and Repair
The aircraft is sanded to remove any remaining paint or primer residue not removed by stripping.
Composite parts are also sanded as required.
Any bodywork, fiberglass and dents are meticulously repaired.
The aircraft is etched and treated to ensure corrosion protection.
Priming and Painting
An epoxy primer is applied as the base layer.
This is followed by three coats of polyurethane topcoat paint.
The landing gear struts and wheels are also sanded and painted.
Decorative Design and Finishing
A custom design stripe layout is meticulously created.
A licensed mechanic weighs, balances and reinstalls all surface controls.
Operational exterior placards are installed for functionality and compliance.
A strip of PRC black sealer is applied around the windows to achieve a clean, crisp edge.
Final Touches
The final stage includes touching up all stripes, removing masking tape and cleaning windows and exterior parts to ensure a flawless finish.
Aerosmith Aviation
Aerosmith Aviation, a full-service aircraft completion center in East Texas, played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of BB-887. They installed the Garmin GTN 750 navigator paired with autopilot, an advanced engine indication system and G600 TXi touchscreen flight displays. Here are some key features and aspects of the GTN 750:
Touchscreen Interface
The GTN 750 features a large, high-resolution touchscreen display allowing for easy and intuitive navigation.
Navigation and Flight Planning
It offers advanced GPS navigation capabilities, including flight planning, airspace alerts and graphical flight plan editing. It can interface with autopilot systems for smooth route management.
Communication and Audio Control
The GTN 750 can integrate with aircraft communication systems, providing radio tuning, intercom functionality and audio control. It also supports dual-frequency monitoring.
Weather and Traffic Information
The system can display real-time weather data and traffic information when connected to compatible sensors and systems. This includes NEXRAD weather radar, METARs, TAFs and TIS-B traffic data.
Terrain Awareness
The GTN 750 includes terrain and obstacle awareness features, providing visual and auditory alerts to help pilots avoid potential hazards.
Charts and Maps
It supports a wide range of charts and maps, including VFR sectional charts, IFR en route charts and approach plates.
Integration
The GTN 750 is designed to integrate seamlessly with other avionics systems, including transponders, audio panels and ADS-B systems. This makes it a central hub for managing various aspects of the aircraft’s avionics.
User Customization
Pilots can customize the display and user interface to match their preferences and flying style, including configuring shortcuts and user-defined waypoints.
Software Updates
Garmin provides regular software updates for the GTN 750, adding new features and improving performance. These updates can be installed via an SD card.
Blackhawk Aerospace + King Air Nation
The team at King Air Nation installed the Blackhawk PT6A-52 engine upgrade and coordinated the refurbishment of the B200’s interior, using colors, materials and technology to match the car’s interior details such as red stitching, demon heads embroidered on yokes and touchscreens.
The Blackhawk PT6A-52 engines are the perfect match to our “musclecar of aviation,” providing significantly more horsepower and better fuel efficiency. For aviation enthusiasts, professional pilots and aircraft owners, these engines are the epitome of power and reliability. These engines allow pilots to fly faster and experience a smoother, more robust climb. The Blackhawk PT6A-52 engines also provide improved safety margins and better high-altitude and hot-weather capabilities, ensuring reliable opera-tion in challenging conditions.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of this project with King Air Nation,” said Edwin Black, president of Blackhawk Aerospace. “The King Air has long been referred to as the suburban of the sky, but with our XP52 Engine+ Upgrade, it’s transformed into the ‘muscle craft’ that it truly is and was always meant to be.”
Future Prospects and Innovation
The King Air Demon debuted in May 2024 at the annual King Air Gathering, held this year in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. “The King Air Gathering consists of many people devoted to the King Air kingdom, so there was no better place to reveal this exciting project than at the gathering,” said Davis, whose King Air Nation presents the annual event.
The aircraft was on static display alongside a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 at Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), the host airport for attendees of the gathering and site of the event’s Airport Day, enabling attendees to exchange ideas and share experiences about their aircraft.
“Getting to see the fully finished aircraft with the matching car for the first time at the King Air Gathering was so awesome,” Haven ASG’s Lamance said. “They really turned out as a great complement to each other. The Haven team eagerly awaits King Air Nation’s next ambitious King Air project!”
King Air Nation believes the King Air Demon is just the beginning. With its success, there’s potential for future aircraft designs to take inspiration from the automotive world, creating a new genre of versatile, high-performance aircraft. The project also opens up possibilities for further customization and personalization in aviation, catering to the unique tastes and needs of aircraft owners and operators.
The one-of-a-kind aircraft is a testament to what can be achieved when dared to innovate. By blending the power and aesthetics of muscle cars with advanced aviation technology, the Demon represents a new frontier in aircraft design. For aviation enthusiasts, car lovers and tech innovators, the King Air Demon is more than just an aircraft—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when boundaries are pushed and imagination takes flight.
Goodbye turbine suburban, say hello to the muscle car of aviation!
Visit kingairnation.com/demon for more photos and details about this project.