Page 6 - April 2015 Volume 9, Number 4

The Aircraft
According to Tannahill, the King Air is still being manufactured at the same manufacturing facility, Plant IV, located at what is now called Textron Aviation’s east campus.
After coming out of bankruptcy in 2013, Beechcraft had announced it was looking at the possibility of
The upgraded C90GTx with Raisbeck Engineering’s swept-blade propellers
and dual aft body strakes. The upgrade allows for shorter takeoff and landing distances, better handling characteristics and enhanced passenger experience.
creating new King Air models. When asked if there are still plans for that, Tannahill answered, “With the acquisition of Beechcraft by Textron, you will see additional investments in the King Air product line. In fact, just last year at NBAA we announced two new improvements on the King Airs.”
The enhancements Tannahill mentioned are a new standard performance upgrade on the C90GTx and an enhanced payload option on the King Air 250. The new upgrade on the C90GTx allows for shorter takeoff and landing distances – most significantly, shortening the takeoff distance by nearly 600 feet – better handling characteristics and enhanced passenger experience. The upgrades are a result of incorporating Raisbeck Engineering’s performance enhancements consisting of swept-blade propellers and dual aft body strakes. With the King Air 250, customers can order this model with a factory-installed modification that increases the maximum takeoff weight from 12,500 pounds to 13,420 pounds, providing 1,025 pounds of payload with full fuel.
Meet Christi Tannahill
Most long-time King Air owners know Christi Tannahill, who joined Beechcraft in 1999. She served as vice president of Hawker Beechcraft Global Parts and Services, then vice president of Beechcraft’s Global Customer Support organization before the formation of Textron Aviation. As senior vice president, Turboprop Aircraft and Interior Design, she is responsible for the profit and loss of the turboprop business (King Air and Caravan lines) – from customer input and advanced design, to manufacturing, customer delivery and continued service and support. She also leads the customer-focused interior design organization that supports all product lines.

4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
APRIL 2015