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Introduced in 1983, the Model 300 Super King Air featured Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60 engines and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 14,000 pounds. A lightweight version, known as the 300LW, was offered for the European market but was limited to an MTOW of 12,500 pounds. The Model 300 shown was one of 19 built for the FAA in the late 1980s. (Textron Aviation)
fellow test pilot George Bromley flying as co-pilot, the reengineered Super King Air first flew October 6, 1981. Nearly two years later on September 3, 1983, the pre- production prototype Model 300 took off from Beech Field under the command of company test pilot Vaughn Gregg.
In January 1984, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification was granted to the Model 300 under an amendment to the Model 200’s original Approved Type Certificate designated A24CE. Initial deliveries to customers began early that year. A total of 27 airplanes left the factory in 1984 followed by 60 in 1985 – the highest year of production for the company’s new flagship Super King Air. Another batch was delivered in 1986 and 104 Model 300s rolled off the production line from 1987-1991. In addition, in 1987-1988 the company built 19 Model 300s to serve the FAA as national airway/ navigation systems inspection and certification aircraft. These special King Airs were issued the distinct serial numbers FF-1 through FF-19.
The temporary nature of SFAR 41C essentially limited the number of Model 300s that could be built. When the regulation expired, it automatically terminated the airplane’s production certificate, which occurred October 17, 1991. Facing a limited market in the United States for the “heavyweight” version of the Model 300, Beech
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Aircraft turned its attention to offering the airplane as a “lightweight” version (MTOW 12,500 pounds) of the Super King Air to customers in Europe and other regions of the world.
With future expiration of SFAR 41C firmly established by the FAA, in 1988 Beech Aircraft announced its intention to develop the Model 300LW, although the standard Model 300 would continue to be available in the United States but only at a MTOW of 12,500 pounds, as permitted by FAR Part 23 rules. As for the Model 300LW, it received special certification under European airworthiness regulations at a MTOW of 12,500 pounds (the lower takeoff weight also reduced airway user fees that would have been higher if the 14,000-pound limit was approved). According to Beechcraft Corporation, from 1984-1994, a total of 230 Model 300 and 300LW were built. The 300LW Super King Air, however, were selected units built within the production run of the Model 300, and their data does not break out which ones were straight 300s and which were 300LWs. In addition, Beech Aircraft offered customers a kit that included an airspeed indicator with appropriate markings as well as specific pages that were inserted into the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual. The kit gave customers the ability to convert a Model 300 into a Model 300LW or reconvert to a Model 300.
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 23