Page 7 - Nov 2015 Volume 9, Number 11

Commuter Air Technology’s 350ME gives carrying capacity and endurance upgrades to the King Air B300 through two supplemental type certificates – one that increases operational gross weight and the other provides a fuel tank with the largest capacity of fuel in the market, adding a total of 280 gallons.
“CAT’s 350 gross weight increase and 350ME fuel tanks enable our customers to fly their King Air from coast to coast: Los Angeles to Miami, or internationally across the Atlantic, without the need to refuel. This has been unprecedented – until now,” said Darryl Wilkerson, Commuter Air Technology’s president.
CAT 350ME fuel tanks have the largest capacity in the market, adding a total of 280 gallons of fuel and achieving flight time of 12-plus hours with a range of 2,760 nautical miles. This accounts for a 15-plus percent improvement over industry leading solutions currently in the market, the company said.
The operational gross weight increase provides an overall increase in operating weights for the B300 aircraft with increased ramp weight to 16,600 pounds, take-off weight of 16,500 pounds and landing weight of 15,675 pounds. The upgrade also supports the additional weight of the CAT 350ME fuel tanks and minimizes the impact to the carrying capacity for full fuel load operations. commuterair.com
BLR Aerospace Whisper Prop
BLR Aerospace announced that 10 Whisper Prop systems have been sold for King Air 90, 200 and 350
aircraft, and that operators are verifying the effectiveness of the ultra-quiet, low-vibration propeller system.
“The jury is in,” said Dave Marone, BLR’s vice president of Sales and Marketing. “Whisper Prop is incredibly smooth and quiet providing a step change in cabin comfort.”
BLR introduced the fully certified five-blade, carbon fiber propeller in May. The system has a natural composite core and is manufactured by MT-Propeller of Germany. It is available for installation on King Airs individually or as a package with BLR Winglet Systems, which increases wing aspect ratio to reduce induced drag to provide improved speed, climb, fuel efficiency and handling qualities.
The company said its King Air C90GTi flight test data shows that Whisper Prop provides between 30 and 50 percent reduction in noise measured in dba, depending on audible frequency, when compared to the standard King Air C90GTi propeller. The data shows performance gains too, with BLR reporting that King Air 350 operators who install Whisper Prop can expect a six percent reduction in takeoff time from brake release to VR speed. blraerospace.com
Raisbeck/Hartzell swept-blade props
Two of Raisbeck Engineering’s newly designed King Air 350 swept-blade propellers manufactured by Hartzell Propeller Inc, in Piqua, Ohio, have reached the order-taking stage, the companies announced at NBAA, where both propellers were on display. The four-blade aluminum propellers will begin delivering in January 2016 and the five-blade structural composite propellers in April 2016. Both have completed FAA certification flight tests and documentation, with STCs expected soon.
The new King Air 350 propellers are an extension of the Hartzell/Raisbeck swept-blade technology already developed for the King Air C90 and King Air B200 series. The companies said the upgrades offer increased across- the-board performance, lower cockpit and cabin sound levels and a striking ramp presence.
“We have greatly advanced the technology of propellers by taking advantage of the aerodynamic effect of blade
According to flight test data, BLR’s certified five-blade, carbon fiber Whisper Prop provides between a 30 and 50 percent reduction in noise measured in dba, as well as some performance gains.
DECEMBER 2015
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 5