Page 31 - April 2022

The aircraft was powered by two 1,200-SHP Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67 turboprop engines mounted in pusher configuration. First flown in February 1986, the Model 2000 was certified in June 1988, and the upgraded Model 200A was introduced in 1991. Unfortunately, the airplane’s high price and absence of any significant performance improvements over the Super King Air series led to the program’s cancellation after only 53 airplanes had been built. As of 2020, only six were known to still be in airworthy condition.
After 48 years of ownership under the Beech name and in the wake of nearly five decades of unparalleled success, in February 1980, Beech Aircraft Corporation became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company based in Lexington, Massachusetts. However, that corporate marriage ended in 2007 when the bankrupt company was sold to Goldman Sachs and Onex. The illustrious history of Beech Aircraft Corporation entered its final phase in December 2013 when Textron agreed to acquire the company for $1.4 billion. As of 2022, Textron Aviation continues to build the G36 Bonanza, G58 Baron, and the King Air 260 and 360 under the Beechcraft name.1 KA
Notes:
1 When the acquisition by Raytheon took place, Frank E. Hedrick stepped down as president in January 1981. Edward C. Burns became the com- pany’s fourth president, and Olive Ann Beech remained as chairperson of the board. In 1982 Hedrick, Burns, and Olive Ann Beech retired. They were replaced by Linden S. Blue, who became president, followed by James S. Walsh in 1984. Max E. Bleck succeeded him in May 1987. Jack Braly became president in March 1991 until replaced by Art Wegner in 1994, who was replaced by Hansel Tookes. Jim Schuster took control in 2001 until February 2012 when Steve Miller replaced Bill Boisture, who remained as chairperson of the company. Four months later, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
Ed Phillips, now retired and living in the South, has researched and written eight books on the unique and rich aviation history that belongs to Wichita, Kansas. His writings have focused on the evolution of the airplanes, companies and people that have made Wichita the “Air Capital of the World” for more than 80 years.
APRIL 2022
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 29