Page 16 - Dec24

Sama (left) and Takelma are growing quickly in Wichita.
Sedgwick County’s King Air
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office has had a fixed-wing airplane for nearly four decades. The county purchased its 2001 King Air 350 in December 2023, replacing a 1975 Twin Commander 690A.
“When we got a new captain, his first question was ‘Why are we not flying a plane that was made in Wichita?’” Sherwood said. “So, we started searching and were lucky that the Kansas Highway Patrol was willing to sell their King Air to us for a reasonable amount.”
Choosing the King Air was about more than loyalty to a local manufacturer, though; it was finding an airplane that met their needs, was dependable and still in production for parts availability (the 690A hasn’t been produced since 1985). Sherwood said it’s also saved time and money now that neither airplane maintenance nor pilot training requires traveling out of state as it did with the Commander.
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office has two pilots and one in training. Dr. Lawrence Lay, who the team calls Doc, has been a reserve deputy/pilot since 2009. He’s a 19,500-hour pilot with approximately 1,500 in King Airs, including time as a test pilot for Beech and a check airman for LifeSave Transport, which provides regional air and ground transport for critically ill or injured patients.
Sherwood was a detective when the Sheriff’s Office opened applications for one pilot trainee in 2018.
DECEMBER 2024
About black bears
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear with fur that can
be black, brown, gray or bluish-black. They aren’t aggressive unless provoked and are known for their ability to climb to escape threats. They aren’t true hibernators but tend to spend winters in caves for protection against the cold. They eat all through the spring, summer and fall to build up fat for the winter. Even while dormant in winter, they are easily awakened upon intrusion or commotion. The American black bear is
the most widespread and numerous bear in North America, with a total population of 500,000. Source: Sedgwick County Zoo
14 • KING AIR MAGAZINE