Page 12 - Volume 15 Number 10

Artist rendering of the inboard leading edge section as originally installed on the Beechcraft Super King Model 200, and the modified design created by Raisbeck Engineering, Inc. According to the company, the revised lead- ing edge reduced both cruise drag and fuel consumption and allowed for increased payload. (Raisbeck Engineering, Inc.)
Other upgrades include new inboard leading edges, high flotation gear doors (for airplanes equipped with larger wheels and tires), ram air recovery system, dual aft body strakes and crown wing lockers. Collectively, these items are known as EPIC Performance Packages and are available for installation on the Model C90, E90, Model 200/B200/B200GT; Model 250 and Model 350. Among Raisbeck Engineering’s earliest projects to improve performance was a redesign of the inboard leading edge of the Model 200 King Air. Originally fabricated from a combination of aluminum and honeycomb sandwiched materials, the leading edges would slowly deteriorate and separate over time due to the effects of temperature and moisture. “We aerodynamically reshaped (changed the contour) the inboard section using a composite material,” Raisbeck said. These changes resulted in reduced drag and fuel consumption while increasing payload.
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10 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2021