Page 5 - April 2015 Volume 9, Number 4

Year Later
Textron Aviation
Umbrella
by Kim Blonigen
Last year started with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Beechcraft King Air’s first flight on Jan. 20, 2014, as well as recognizing the line of turboprops as the best-selling business aircraft family in the world with nearly 7,300 aircraft delivered and a worldwide fleet having surpassed 60 million flight hours. Shortly thereafter, in March, the acquisition of Beechcraft Corporation by Textron Inc. was finalized and Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna brands would all be housed under the Textron Aviation banner.
Since it’s been a little over a year under its new corporate umbrella, has anything changed with the King Air, or its customer support, parts and maintenance services? King Air magazine asked these questions of the company’s leadership team, including Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Turboprop Aircraft and Interior Design, and Brad Thress, senior vice president, Customer Service.
APRIL 2015
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 3
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