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last year, wants this endeavor to always stay with one will perform a complete walkaround inspection/
airplane model only, the King Air. We will never dilute our knowledge or threaten our accuracy by trying to be a jack of all trades.
Here’s the idea: We are planning the first of many King Air Gatherings around the country with the following goals in mind. First, get a group of likeminded, owner pilots together to share information and to see what the “other guy” is doing with his King Air. Second, have an outstanding group of experts who can put on brief, hardhitting, presentations. Dean Benedict and yours truly – two King Air magazine authors who contribute regularly – will be on the agenda. Paul Jones of Specialty Turbine Service, “Mr. PT6,” will present. Paul Sneden, maintenance instructor and BeechTalk forum responder par excellence will be presenting. An avionics whiz who can discuss the ADSB mandate will be there. Jack Braly, King Air F90 ownerpilot, exBeechcraft president, and storyteller extraordinaire will provide a welcome break from the technical as he regales the gathering with Beechcraft tales.
This will be a twoday program, beginning at midmorning of Day One – to allow for those who arrive that morning – and finishing by 5:00 p.m. of Day Two. Lunches on both days will be catered at the airport meeting facility. A highlight will come after Day Two’s lunch, when Dean Benedict and Paul Sneden
demonstration on a King Air that will be jacked up to allow landing gear operation.
In addition to the individual presenters, various King Air aftermarket vendors have indicated a strong willingness to attend: Blackhawk Modifications, Raisbeck Engineering, Sandel (with their Avilon BE 200 demonstrator), and others. They will be available during breaks from the presentations as well as before and after the official gathering. A happy hour will wrap up the end of Day 1.
The very first King Air Gathering will be held at the Apex Aviation facility in Henderson, Nevada, on Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22. Henderson is next door to Las Vegas, so there will be plenty of other attractions when you are not involved with the KAG. Discount rates at a nearby hotel are being arranged. Although an official spouse program has not yet been planned, significant others and guests are welcome, especially for the meals, cocktail hour and casually walking the flight line to see the various attendee airplanes. Golly, this is going to be fantastic!
So, what’s the snag, the hidden problem, the unknown negative? Yes, there is one: All attendees will be charged $250 to cover the expenses involved. Of that fee, $50 will be applied to your 2017 membership in the Beechcraft Heritage Museum as a King Air Society member, and you will be encouraged to attend some or all of the October Beech Party. Additionally, the full $250 will be deducted from the cost of your next training session at the King Air Academy. What a winwin deal!
For more information, the schedule of events, and to register, please go to the web site: www.kingairsociety. com or call (602) 4562417. Alternately, you may also send an email to kingairsociety@gmail.com. Call or write now so you won’t forget.
Can you tell that I am enthused about both endeavors? You bet I am! Ownerpilot groups like these are certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but at last those King Air owners and operators who wish to share their joy and experience with likeminded individuals will finally have the opportunity to do so. I hope to see you in Henderson! KA
King Air expert Tom Clements has been flying and instructing in King Airs for over 44 years, and is the author of “The King Air Book.” He is a Gold Seal CFI and has over 23,000 total hours with more than 15,000 in King Airs. For information on ordering his book, go to www.flightreview.net. Tom is actively mentoring the instructors at King Air Academy in Phoenix.
If you have a question you’d like Tom to answer, please send it to Editor Kim Blonigen at kblonigen@cox.net.
20 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2017
