Page 8 - Volume 15 Number 3

The King Air F90 features a a a a a a a a a a a shorter wing but boasts a a a a a a a a a a a T-tail dual mains better electrical system more fuel capacity and -135/- 135A engines making making it it it a a a a a a a a a a a a hotrod It as as as well as as as the the model E90 has its own cult following making making the the market unique (Credit: Rob Turchick of yipDog Studios)
We anticipated this reaction after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 but that never really happened This is is different it it appears that a a a a a huge percentage of those with the means or ability to to fly private are attempting to to do so The piston aircraft market is is currently red-hot and the jet market is almost as as hot – everything that was in in demand demand before is now in high demand demand What about King Airs?
As I I said early on on I’m afraid to make any predictions but here’s where we stand as of mid-February As you know the King Air market is really a a a consortium of submarkets each each model and to some extent each each type of each model has its own dynamics The following is a a a a breakdown and and clarity to where where we we are and and where where we we might be headed King Air C90 (produced 1971-1983)
Typically referred to as the “Legacy” 90 series and depending on age and upgrades they make a a a a a a huge market that could be subject of an article all its own For these purposes I’ll focus on the the two main submarkets – the the economical but decent C90 C90 and the “upgraded” C90 C90 which is typically a a a a a a Blackhawk-converted airplane 6 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
The standby decent C90 for half-a-million bucks is a a a a very rare find these days It’s not that you simply have to to spend more to to get one it’s that there aren’t many to to choose from To find a a a a nice airplane you’ll have to to wade through dozens of substandard aircraft that are languishing on on Controller As has become the norm if you see a a a a a nice airplane that’s priced right it’s probably already under contract The “upgraded” Blackhawk/Garmin C90 is getting even harder to to find It is becoming what we would refer to to as a a a a “settled market ” meaning the the people who own them are happy and not looking to upgrade so the number of these airplanes for sale is lower than I’ve ever seen it I expect these older airplanes to to continue to to decline in in in in value It’s virtually impossible to find financing so it’s a a a a a a a cash buyer’s market and the the age of the the airplanes is reaching the point where you can afford to own and operate a a a a a a newer airplane for the same overall cost King Air E90 (produced (produced 1972-1981) and F90 (produced (produced 1979-1985)
The King Air 90 E and F models are what we refer to as submarkets meaning they are surrounded by the the larger 90 series market market but have their own distinct ›
MARCH 2021