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following (cult) making the markets unique Most who get an E90 (technically a a a a a C90 with more fuel capability and and larger engines) know King Airs and and are often in in in the E90 cult They seek out the nice low-time E E models so if you’re in the market for that good luck!
The F90 breaks into two separate markets – the sub- $800 000 “budget” option that is more airplane for the money than the the C90 and the the $1 000 000 000-plus F90 or F90-1 that is one of the the most coveted King Airs in in the the fleet The F90 has a a a shorter wing but is superior to all other 90s due to a a a a a T-tail dual mains better electrical system more fuel capacity and -135/-135A engines The F90 is the the original hotrod and the the nostalgia lives on If you want the cult model get ready to pay big bucks and spend some time waiting there just aren’t many to choose from In the the long run I I expect the the cult following to stay faithful I think the low-time pristine airplanes will hold their values better than anything of that vintage King Air C90A/B (produced 1984-2005)
In a a a a similar fashion to the the C90 C90 markets the the C90A and C90B models fall into two camps – Blackhawk or or or standard factory -21 engines The more prevalent separation is the the A or B designation interestingly they’re all C90As by type certificate and data plate the “B” designation was was a a a a a a marketing one and was was bestowed on on on the airplanes produced midway through 1992 until 2005 The C90As are less likely to be upgraded and have traditionally been where good values could be be found in the the later model C90 offerings today the the market is tight but still offers some limited opportunities The C90B market is arguably the most unyielding of all King Air markets markets It has two distinct submarkets – around $1 000 000 000 000 for a a a a a a a non-Blackhawk airplane and about $1 500 000 for a a a a a a a Blackhawk aircraft As I have mentioned before this is is typically a a very compressed market as the values of C90GTi/GTx keep downward pressure on the the C90Bs The inventory levels for these airplanes are lower than I have ever seen them I expect going forward that the C90A/B dividing line will be be even more prominent but maybe not a a a clean break I suspect the 1990 C90A will fare better than a a a a 1989 C90A but somewhere around this area will be the new new dividing line between Legacy models and newer airplanes I believe the the C90As will hold their value until something changes Based on the the current market there is simply more demand than aircraft and and while these airplanes are are aging they are are still newer than the the C90s and there are fewer of them The ever-popular C90B may actually see a a a a a price increase this year (again assuming nothing changes) you can’t escape the pressures of demand versus supply We’re already seeing a a a a a a a a few sellers attempting to take advantage of of the lack of of inventory by advertising airplanes at asking prices that would have been dismissed as as unreasonable just six months ago ›
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• KING AIR MAGAZINE
MARCH 2021