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8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Beechcraft King Air site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Beechcraft King Air, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Beechcraft King Air, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

This article is about 90 and 100 Series King Airs. For 200 and 300 Series King Airs, see the Beechcraft Super King Air article.

{{Infobox Aircraft |name= King Air |type= Civil utility aircraft |manufacturer= [Beechcraft |image= Image:C-GSYN Adlair Aviation Ltd Beechcraft King Air 100 (BE10) 03.JPG |caption= C-GSYN, Adlair Aviation Ltd.'s King Air 100 |designer= |first flight= May 1963 |introduced= [1964-09-09 |retired= |status= Active service |primary user = [United States Navy |more users= [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
[Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia |produced= |number built= 3,000+ |unit cost = |developed from = [Beechcraft Queen Air |variants with their own articles= [Beechcraft Super King Air -->

The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beechcraft (now the Beechcraft Division of Hawker Beechcraft). Historically, the King Air line comprises a number of models that have been divided into two families; the Model 90 series and Model 100 series are known as King Airs, while the Model 200 series and Model 300 series were originally marketing as Beechcraft Super King Air, with the "Super" moniker being dropped by Beechcraft in 1996 (although it is still often used in aviation circles to differentiate the 200 and 300 series King Airs from their smaller stablemates). As of October 2007, the only small King Air in production is the conventional-tail C90GT.

The King Air was the first aircraft in its class and has been in continuous production since 1964. It has outsold all of its turboprop competitors combined and has seen them all off; it is the only small twin-turboprop business aircraft in production. It now faces competition from jet aircraft such as the Beechcraft Premier I and Cessna Citation Mustang.

Development Model 90 series The Model 90 King Air was originally conceived as the Model 120 in 1961. In May 1963 Beechcraft began test flights of the Model 87, a modified Beechcraft Queen Air with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-6 engines. On July 14 that year Beechcraft formally announced it was developing a new aircraft type. A month later Beechcraft advised that it was accepting orders for the new type, to be called the "King Air", for deliveries commencing in the Autumn of 1964 Beech King Air timeline retrieved 2007-09-20.. After 10 months of test flying, in 1964 the Model 87 was delivered to the United States Army as the NU-8F. On January 24, 1964 the first prototype Model 65-90, also fitted with PT6A-6 engines, flew for the first time. The first production aircraft was delivered on October 8 1964 and by the end of that month 152 aircraft had been orderedGreen, William. "Beech 65-90 King Air", The Observer's Book of Aircraft, 1965 Edition. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London. No ISBN, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 57-4425.; by the end of the year seven had been built. In 1966, after 112 65-90s had been built, production switched to the Model 65-A90 with PT6A-20 engines. As a measure of the type's popularity, a total of 208 65-A90s were built in less than two years when production switched to the Model B90, the first of these rolling off the production line in 1968. Military versions built during these years included the A90-1, A90-2, A90-3 and A90-4, all being unpressurised models based on the Model 87. These were produced for the US Army which designated them U-21s of various sub-models; many were fitted out for electronic battlefield surveillance. A total of 162 of these unpressurised aircraft were built between 1967 and 1971.A total of 184 B90 models were produced before the Model C90 was introduced in 1971, with wingspan increased over earlier models by 4ft 11in to 50ft 3in (15.32m), Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) increased by 350lbs to 9,650lbs (4,378kgs), and PT6A-20A engines. The broadly similar Model E90 was introduced the following year, with PT6A-28 engines; the two models were produced in parallel. Further refinement of the 90 series resulted in the Model F90 and follow-on Model F90-1. The F-models featured the T-tail of the Model 200 King Air mated to the fuselage and wings of the E90, with PT6A-135 engines of 750shp driving four-bladed propellers. The F90 prototype flew for the first time on January 16 1978 and 202 production versions followed between 1979 and 1983, when the F90 was superseded by the F90-1. The F90 prototype was re-engined with Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines to test the feasability of a Model G90, but this model was not put into production.

The Model C90-1 entered production in 1982 after 507 C90s and 347 E90s had been built, and featured PT6A-21 engines and improvements to the pressurisation system. The following year the F90-1 was put into production with redesigned engine cowlings; only 33 of this model were built by the time production was terminated in 1985. The C90-1 was soon followed by the Model C90A; this superseded the C90-1 in 1984 after just 54 of that model had been built and featured the redesigned engine cowlings first seen on the F90-1. The C90A received an increase in MTOW in 1987, subsequently being certified to 10,100lbs (4,582kgs). The C90A model was in production until 1992, by which time 232 had been built, all but 74 with the increased MTOW. The Model C90B followed that year with airframe improvements, four-bladed propellers and propeller synchrophasingA term used to describe a system fitted to many twin-engined propeller-driven aircraft. The system matches propeller revolutions-per-minute and also "phases" the position of the blades of each propeller relative to the other propeller, so that the noise experienced in the cabin is more even., all in an effort to reduce noise inside the cabin. This model also had PT6A-21 engines; when it was built the first production C90B was fitted with the 10,000th PT6 engine delivered to Beechcraft. In 1994 a cheaper version was introduced with the name C90SE (Special Edition), with standardised interior and avionics. Both 'C90B' and 'C90SE' are marketing terms; all aircraft being actually identified as C90As on the FAA Type Certificate.

In July 2005, during the Oshkosh Airshow, Beechcraft introduced the C90GT. The C90GT is fitted with PT6A-135A engines of 750 shp, but they are flat rated to the same 550 shp as the engines in the earlier King Air models. This engine change increases performance due to lower operating temperatures, improving both cruise speed and climb rate. With a 275 knot cruise speed, the C90GT is highly competitive with the new generation of Very Light Jets over short to medium distances, while providing a larger and more luxurious cabin. C90GT production commenced after 458 C90Bs and C90SEs had been delivered. On May 21 2007, during the 7th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, Beechcraft announced the Model C90GTi updated version of the C90GT Hawker Beechcraft Press Release retrieved 2007-09-20., featuring the Rockwell Collins Proline 21 avionics package previously only offered for the B200 and B300 King Airs. Deliveries are due to commence in late 2007.

Model 100 series Beechcraft was not a company to design a completely-new aircraft when a derivative could do the job, and designed the Model 100 as a stretch of the Model 90 (with five cabin windows instead of the Model 90's three); the MTOW was increased by 1,300lbs (590kgs) over that of the 90 models, to 10,600lbs (4,810kgs). It was also derived from the Beechcraft Model 99, using the same wings, tail and engines (two PT6A-28 engines rated at 620 shp) as that aircraftSome sources claim that the Model 99 was developed from the Model 100, but the Model 99 preceded the King Air 100 by two years., itself a development of the Queen Air (as was the Model 90 of course). The Model 100 was flown for the first time on March 17 1969 and unveiled to the public in May the same year. 89 Model 100s were built before it was superseded by the Model A100 in 1971, with a further increase in MTOW to 11,500lbs (5,217kgs), fuel capacity increased by 94 Gallons (357 litres), and four-bladed propellers. A total of 157 A100s were built by the time production of this model ceased in 1979. The next in the series was the B100, which featured 715 shp Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines as an alternative to the Pratt & Whitneys offered on other King Airs, and another increase in MTOW to 11,800lbs (5,354kgs). The B100 was introduced in 1974 and was produced concurrently with the A100 for several years; manufacture ceased in 1984 after 137 were built. The Model 200 Super King Air was developed from the Model 100, with the same fuselage design (with some differences, mainly associated with the different tails) being used for both models. The 200 model had different wings and a T-tail and entered service in 1973 (see the Beechcraft Super King Air article).

Military King Air versions The U.S. military has used King Air 90s in various roles, primarily VIP and liaison transport, resulting in designations including the VC-6A, the T-44A Pegasus, and the U-21 Ute. The U-21 Ute used by the US Army was the most common version.

Most U-21s were unpressurized King Air Model 90s (see above), with the exception of five U-21Fs based on the A100 King Air; and three U-21Js, which Beechcraft designated as the Model A100-1 but were actually the first three production Model 200 Super King Airs (C/Ns BB-3, BB-4 and BB-5, after prototypes C/N BB-1 and BB-2 had been built). The majority of U-21s were delivered as U-21As (102 A90-1s), but there were also four RU-21As (A90-1s), three RU-21Bs (A90-2s), two RU-21Cs (A90-3s), 18 RU-21Ds (A90-1s), 16 RU-21Es (A90-4s) and 17 RU-21Gs (A90-1s). The RU-21Es (except for one that had been written-off) were later converted to U-21Hs and RU-21Hs, with two U-21Hs and an RU-21H being further converted to JU-21Hs USAF FY1970 Serial Number list retrieved 3 September 2007.. As of September 2007 only the three surviving RU-21As remain in military serviceInformation derived from LAASdata online King Air 90 survivors database accessed 2007-09-09.. The vast majority of the U-21 series were retired in the second half of the 1990s and most are now owned by Dynamic Aviation of Bridgewater, Virginia. Some have been modified as spraying aircraft and are used on insect control workInformation derived from conducting an online search of the US civil aircraft register using "LM-" (the serial number prefix for A90-1 aircraft). Search conducted 2007-09-09..

Two VC-6A aircraft were operated by the US military. One was a Model 65-A90 operated by the US Army and serialled 66-15361 USAF FY1966 Serial Number list retrieved 2007-09-03.; and the other a B90 operated by the United States Air Force (see Air Force One below).

The T-44A Pegasus was a trainer version, designated the Model H90 by Beechcraft, and is used to train United States Navy and United States Air Force pilots to fly multi-engine, turboprop aircraft such as the P-3 Orion and the C-130 Hercules. A total of 61 were delivered to the US Navy between 1977 and 1980. In August 2006, the Navy announced that after 29 years of operation, the T-44A fleet would be upgraded with modernized avionics systems, and redesignated as T-44Cs. Vendrasco, Stephanie, "Transforming the Pegasus"

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has operated a total of 40 C90 and C90A King Airs, with deliveries beginning in 1973. These have been given various designations by the JMSDF and consist of 34 TC-90 trainers, five LC-90 transports and a single UC-90 which is configured for photographic aerial survey. The TC-90s and the UC-90 comprise the 202 Kyoiku Kokutai (Training Squadron) based at Tokushima, Tokushima, while the LC-90s are attached to various P-3 Orion Kokutais (Squadrons) and a NAMC YS-11 KokutaiJapan Maritime Defence Force Order of Battle accessed via this webpage, retrieved 2007-10-09. as liaison aircraft. In late 2005 the JMSDF marked 500,000 accident-free flying hours of the TC-90 trainer fleet Hawker Beechcraft Press Release retrieved 2007-10-09.. Air Force One During the administration of President of the United States Lyndon Johnson, the United States Air Force acquired a Model B90 King Air "off-the-shelf". With the military designation of VC-6A, the aircraft, serialled 66-7943 A list of civil aircraft types used by the US military retrieved 2007-09-03., was used to transport President Johnson between Bergstrom Air Force Base (near Austin, Texas) and the Johnson family ranch near Johnson City, Texas. When Johnson was aboard, the aircraft used the callsign Air Force One. This aircraft is now on display, with other presidential aircraft, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.

Modification and Upgrade Programmes As might be expected for the most prolific type in its class, several "after-market" modifications and upgrades are available for 90 and 100 Series King Airs A list of STCs available for King Air series aircraft retrieved 2007-09-20.. One upgrade package involves earlier-build 90 Series aircraft being re-engined with the PT6A-135A engines of the C90GT. This package is offered by Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. as the Blackhawk XP Blackhawk Modifications Inc. Blackhawk XP page retrieved 2007-09-20.. A more radical re-engining programme is the Kilo Alpha 290, which involves the replacement of the PT6s in C90 and E90 King Airs with TPE-331s Kilo Alpha web page retrieved 2007-10-16.. Avia Design offers a Wing Front Spar Reinforcement Kit for both 90 and 100 Series aircraft, while Raisbeck Inc. (a company that has been heavily involved in developing modifications for the entire King Air line) offers a modification involving the fitment of Hartzell propellers designed to increase aircraft performance and reduce noise inside the cabin FAA STC No. SA3593NM retrieved 2007-09-20.. Sierra Nevada Corporation offers a modification for the entire King Air line that entails reworking and extending the entire nose FAA STC No. SA00367SE retrieved 2007-09-20. to house a baggage compartment as well as the avionics normally found in the noses of King Air aircraft. Many of the modifications available are offered by Commuter Air Technology (CAT), together with some of its own modifications, as a complete package, resulting in reduced maintenance costs, improved handling and increased performance Commuter Air Technology King Air 90 page retrieved 2007-09-20. Commuter Air Technology King Air 100 page retrieved 2007-09-20.. Modifications available for the King Air 100 include a belly cargo pod developed by CAT, similar to the pods fitted to the Beech 99 and the Model 1300 version of the King Air 200 series.

Operators Military operators , currently displayed at White Sands Missile Range Museum Eight C90A King Airs were operated by Bombardier on behalf of the Canadian Air Force. These were used as multi-engine trainers and flew with Canadian civil registrations. All entered service in 1992 List of civil-registered aircraft of the Canadian Armed Forces retrieved 2007-10-09. and were sold by 2005The current status of the eight aircraft was obtained by performing searches of the relevant constructor's numbers in the LAASdata Turboprops database, which shows that all eight aircraft were registered in the USA by September 2005. Searches conducted 2007-10-09..

Governmental operators

The Department of Civil Aviation of Papua New Guinea operated a C90 King Air for a number of years, but now operates a Model 200 Super King Air.

Civil operators

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia previously operated a large number of 90 Series King Airs, but retired the last example in 2006, standardising on the King Air 200 Series and the Pilatus PC-12 for its fleet requirements. Two of the former RFDS C90 King Airs are now operated by the New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Variants A total of almost 3,100 King Air 90 and 100 series aircraft have been delivered.

"Proof-of-concept" test aircraft; one built (c/no. LG-1). Prototypes and first production model; 112 built (c/nos. LJ-1 to LJ-113, except LJ-76). 206 built (c/nos. LJ-76, LJ-114 to LJ-317; includes c/no. LJ-178A), one (c/no. LJ-153) to US Army as VC-6A. Based on the Model 87; 141 built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LM-1 to LM-141). Based on the Model 87; three built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LS-1 to LS-3). Based on the Model 87; two built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LT-1 and LT-2). Based on the Model 87; 16 built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LU-1 to LU-16). Third civil model; 184 built (c/nos. LJ-318 to LJ-501), one (c/no. LJ-320) to USAF as VC-6A. 507 built (c/nos. LJ-502 to LJ-1010, except LJ-986 and LJ-996). 54 built (c/nos. LJ-986 and LJ-996, LJ-1011 to LJ-1062). Current production model (as of September 2007); at least 100 builtThe last King Air C90GT built as of September 2007 is shown in the available online sources ( LAASdata King Air 90 list and various nations' online civil aircraft Registers) as c/no. LJ-1871, however there is a gap for registered King Airs; c/nos. LJ-1857 to LJ-1870 are not listed. There is an online advertisement for King Air c/no. LJ-1862, describing it as a 2008 model C90GTi available for delivery in late 2007. This suggests that at least some of the aircraft between c/nos LJ-1857 and LJ-1870 have not yet been built (as of September 2007). (c/nos. LJ-1754, LJ-1757 and after). Manufactured concurrently with the C90; 347 built (c/nos. LW-1 to LW-347). Prototype and production model with T-tail of the Super King Air; 203 built (c/nos. LA-1 to LA-204, except LA-202). Follow-on from F90; 34 built (c/nos. LA-202, LA-205 to LA 237). F90 prototype re-engined with Garrett TPE331s in place of the Pratt & Whitney PT6s originally fitted, c/no. LA-1. Version manufactured for the US Navy; 61 built (c/nos. LL-1 to LL-61). Prototype and first production "long fuselage" King Air version; 90 built (c/nos B-1 to B-89 and B-93). 157 built (c/nos B-90 to B-247, except B-93), prototype Model 100 c/no. B-1 also converted to A100 model in 1976, three years after introduction of A100 model. Five (c/nos. B-95 to B-99) to US Army as U-21Fs. Prototype (converted from A100 c/no. B-205) plus production model, all with Garrett TPE331 engines instead of Pratt & Whitney PT6s fitted to previous models; 137 built (c/nos BE-1/B-205, BE-2 to BE-137). Beechcraft designation for first three production Model 200 Super King Airs delivered to the US Army (c/nos. BB-3 to BB-5).

Other information The ICAO designator, such as might be used in a PIREP or a flight plan, for the various King Airs are BE90 (various model 90s), and BE10 (model 100).With the exception of the F90 and F90-1, all 90 Series King Airs have been produced under the same Type Certificate (Number 3A20) as used for Queen Air production. All 100 Series King Airs were produced under the same Type Certificate (Number A14CE) as used for Model 99 production.

Specifications King Air C90GT Specifications obtained from the FAA Type Certificate and the Hawker Beechcraft website Queen Air and King Air 90 series Type Certificate Data Sheet retrieved 2007-09-20. Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi Specifications retrieved 2007-09-20.{{aircraft specifications]A-135A|type of prop= turboprops, driving Hartzell HC-E4N-3N propellers|number of props= 2|power main= 550 shp|power alt=410 kW

|max speed main= 260 mph Indicated Air Speed (IAS)|max speed alt= 226 kts IAS, 416 km/h IAS|cruise speed main= 311 mph True Air Speed (TAS)|cruise speed alt= 270 knots TAS, 500 km/h TAS|stall speed main= 90 mph|stall speed alt= 78 knots, 145 km/h|stall speed more= IAS (flaps down)|range main= 1,530 miles|range alt= 1,321 nm, 2,446 km|ceiling main= 30,000ft|ceiling alt= 9,144 m|climb rate main= 2,003 ft/min|climb rate alt= 10.2 m/s|loading main= 34.3 lb/ft²|loading alt= 170 kg/m²|power/mass main= 0.099 hp/lb|power/mass alt= 179 W/kg-->

King Air B100 Specifications obtained from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 1997/98 EditionFrawley, Gerald. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 1997/98 Edition. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd. Canberra ACT, 1997. ISBN 1 875671 26 9.{{aircraft specifications]-6-251B or -252|type of prop= turboprops, driving 3-bladed propellers] to 715 shp|power alt=533 kW

|max speed main= 307 mph Indicated Air Speed (IAS)|max speed alt= 265 kts IAS, 491 km/h IAS|cruise speed main=|cruise speed alt=|stall speed main=|stall speed alt=|stall speed more= IAS (flaps down)|range main= 1,525 miles|range alt= 1,325 nm, 2,455 km|ceiling main= 24,850 ft|ceiling alt= 7,574 m|climb rate main= 2,140 ft/min|climb rate alt= 10.87 m/s|loading main= 42.2 lb/ft²|loading alt= 205.84 kg/m²|power/mass main= 0.121 hp/lb|power/mass alt= 199.17 W/kg-->

References, Notes and Sources References and Notes Sources

External links

Related content {{aircontent

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This article is about 90 and 100 Series King Airs. For 200 and 300 Series King Airs, see the Beechcraft Super King Air article.

{{Infobox Aircraft |name= King Air |type= Civil utility aircraft |manufacturer= [Beechcraft |image= Image:C-GSYN Adlair Aviation Ltd Beechcraft King Air 100 (BE10) 03.JPG |caption= C-GSYN, Adlair Aviation Ltd.'s King Air 100 |designer= |first flight= May 1963 |introduced= [1964-09-09 |retired= |status= Active service |primary user = [United States Navy |more users= [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
[Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia |produced= |number built= 3,000+ |unit cost = |developed from = [Beechcraft Queen Air |variants with their own articles= [Beechcraft Super King Air -->

The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beechcraft (now the Beechcraft Division of Hawker Beechcraft). Historically, the King Air line comprises a number of models that have been divided into two families; the Model 90 series and Model 100 series are known as King Airs, while the Model 200 series and Model 300 series were originally marketing as Beechcraft Super King Air, with the "Super" moniker being dropped by Beechcraft in 1996 (although it is still often used in aviation circles to differentiate the 200 and 300 series King Airs from their smaller stablemates). As of October 2007, the only small King Air in production is the conventional-tail C90GT.

The King Air was the first aircraft in its class and has been in continuous production since 1964. It has outsold all of its turboprop competitors combined and has seen them all off; it is the only small twin-turboprop business aircraft in production. It now faces competition from jet aircraft such as the Beechcraft Premier I and Cessna Citation Mustang.

Development Model 90 series The Model 90 King Air was originally conceived as the Model 120 in 1961. In May 1963 Beechcraft began test flights of the Model 87, a modified Beechcraft Queen Air with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-6 engines. On July 14 that year Beechcraft formally announced it was developing a new aircraft type. A month later Beechcraft advised that it was accepting orders for the new type, to be called the "King Air", for deliveries commencing in the Autumn of 1964 Beech King Air timeline retrieved 2007-09-20.. After 10 months of test flying, in 1964 the Model 87 was delivered to the United States Army as the NU-8F. On January 24, 1964 the first prototype Model 65-90, also fitted with PT6A-6 engines, flew for the first time. The first production aircraft was delivered on October 8 1964 and by the end of that month 152 aircraft had been orderedGreen, William. "Beech 65-90 King Air", The Observer's Book of Aircraft, 1965 Edition. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London. No ISBN, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 57-4425.; by the end of the year seven had been built. In 1966, after 112 65-90s had been built, production switched to the Model 65-A90 with PT6A-20 engines. As a measure of the type's popularity, a total of 208 65-A90s were built in less than two years when production switched to the Model B90, the first of these rolling off the production line in 1968. Military versions built during these years included the A90-1, A90-2, A90-3 and A90-4, all being unpressurised models based on the Model 87. These were produced for the US Army which designated them U-21s of various sub-models; many were fitted out for electronic battlefield surveillance. A total of 162 of these unpressurised aircraft were built between 1967 and 1971.A total of 184 B90 models were produced before the Model C90 was introduced in 1971, with wingspan increased over earlier models by 4ft 11in to 50ft 3in (15.32m), Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) increased by 350lbs to 9,650lbs (4,378kgs), and PT6A-20A engines. The broadly similar Model E90 was introduced the following year, with PT6A-28 engines; the two models were produced in parallel. Further refinement of the 90 series resulted in the Model F90 and follow-on Model F90-1. The F-models featured the T-tail of the Model 200 King Air mated to the fuselage and wings of the E90, with PT6A-135 engines of 750shp driving four-bladed propellers. The F90 prototype flew for the first time on January 16 1978 and 202 production versions followed between 1979 and 1983, when the F90 was superseded by the F90-1. The F90 prototype was re-engined with Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines to test the feasability of a Model G90, but this model was not put into production.

The Model C90-1 entered production in 1982 after 507 C90s and 347 E90s had been built, and featured PT6A-21 engines and improvements to the pressurisation system. The following year the F90-1 was put into production with redesigned engine cowlings; only 33 of this model were built by the time production was terminated in 1985. The C90-1 was soon followed by the Model C90A; this superseded the C90-1 in 1984 after just 54 of that model had been built and featured the redesigned engine cowlings first seen on the F90-1. The C90A received an increase in MTOW in 1987, subsequently being certified to 10,100lbs (4,582kgs). The C90A model was in production until 1992, by which time 232 had been built, all but 74 with the increased MTOW. The Model C90B followed that year with airframe improvements, four-bladed propellers and propeller synchrophasingA term used to describe a system fitted to many twin-engined propeller-driven aircraft. The system matches propeller revolutions-per-minute and also "phases" the position of the blades of each propeller relative to the other propeller, so that the noise experienced in the cabin is more even., all in an effort to reduce noise inside the cabin. This model also had PT6A-21 engines; when it was built the first production C90B was fitted with the 10,000th PT6 engine delivered to Beechcraft. In 1994 a cheaper version was introduced with the name C90SE (Special Edition), with standardised interior and avionics. Both 'C90B' and 'C90SE' are marketing terms; all aircraft being actually identified as C90As on the FAA Type Certificate.

In July 2005, during the Oshkosh Airshow, Beechcraft introduced the C90GT. The C90GT is fitted with PT6A-135A engines of 750 shp, but they are flat rated to the same 550 shp as the engines in the earlier King Air models. This engine change increases performance due to lower operating temperatures, improving both cruise speed and climb rate. With a 275 knot cruise speed, the C90GT is highly competitive with the new generation of Very Light Jets over short to medium distances, while providing a larger and more luxurious cabin. C90GT production commenced after 458 C90Bs and C90SEs had been delivered. On May 21 2007, during the 7th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva, Beechcraft announced the Model C90GTi updated version of the C90GT Hawker Beechcraft Press Release retrieved 2007-09-20., featuring the Rockwell Collins Proline 21 avionics package previously only offered for the B200 and B300 King Airs. Deliveries are due to commence in late 2007.

Model 100 series Beechcraft was not a company to design a completely-new aircraft when a derivative could do the job, and designed the Model 100 as a stretch of the Model 90 (with five cabin windows instead of the Model 90's three); the MTOW was increased by 1,300lbs (590kgs) over that of the 90 models, to 10,600lbs (4,810kgs). It was also derived from the Beechcraft Model 99, using the same wings, tail and engines (two PT6A-28 engines rated at 620 shp) as that aircraftSome sources claim that the Model 99 was developed from the Model 100, but the Model 99 preceded the King Air 100 by two years., itself a development of the Queen Air (as was the Model 90 of course). The Model 100 was flown for the first time on March 17 1969 and unveiled to the public in May the same year. 89 Model 100s were built before it was superseded by the Model A100 in 1971, with a further increase in MTOW to 11,500lbs (5,217kgs), fuel capacity increased by 94 Gallons (357 litres), and four-bladed propellers. A total of 157 A100s were built by the time production of this model ceased in 1979. The next in the series was the B100, which featured 715 shp Garrett AiResearch TPE-331 engines as an alternative to the Pratt & Whitneys offered on other King Airs, and another increase in MTOW to 11,800lbs (5,354kgs). The B100 was introduced in 1974 and was produced concurrently with the A100 for several years; manufacture ceased in 1984 after 137 were built. The Model 200 Super King Air was developed from the Model 100, with the same fuselage design (with some differences, mainly associated with the different tails) being used for both models. The 200 model had different wings and a T-tail and entered service in 1973 (see the Beechcraft Super King Air article).

Military King Air versions The U.S. military has used King Air 90s in various roles, primarily VIP and liaison transport, resulting in designations including the VC-6A, the T-44A Pegasus, and the U-21 Ute. The U-21 Ute used by the US Army was the most common version.

Most U-21s were unpressurized King Air Model 90s (see above), with the exception of five U-21Fs based on the A100 King Air; and three U-21Js, which Beechcraft designated as the Model A100-1 but were actually the first three production Model 200 Super King Airs (C/Ns BB-3, BB-4 and BB-5, after prototypes C/N BB-1 and BB-2 had been built). The majority of U-21s were delivered as U-21As (102 A90-1s), but there were also four RU-21As (A90-1s), three RU-21Bs (A90-2s), two RU-21Cs (A90-3s), 18 RU-21Ds (A90-1s), 16 RU-21Es (A90-4s) and 17 RU-21Gs (A90-1s). The RU-21Es (except for one that had been written-off) were later converted to U-21Hs and RU-21Hs, with two U-21Hs and an RU-21H being further converted to JU-21Hs USAF FY1970 Serial Number list retrieved 3 September 2007.. As of September 2007 only the three surviving RU-21As remain in military serviceInformation derived from LAASdata online King Air 90 survivors database accessed 2007-09-09.. The vast majority of the U-21 series were retired in the second half of the 1990s and most are now owned by Dynamic Aviation of Bridgewater, Virginia. Some have been modified as spraying aircraft and are used on insect control workInformation derived from conducting an online search of the US civil aircraft register using "LM-" (the serial number prefix for A90-1 aircraft). Search conducted 2007-09-09..

Two VC-6A aircraft were operated by the US military. One was a Model 65-A90 operated by the US Army and serialled 66-15361 USAF FY1966 Serial Number list retrieved 2007-09-03.; and the other a B90 operated by the United States Air Force (see Air Force One below).

The T-44A Pegasus was a trainer version, designated the Model H90 by Beechcraft, and is used to train United States Navy and United States Air Force pilots to fly multi-engine, turboprop aircraft such as the P-3 Orion and the C-130 Hercules. A total of 61 were delivered to the US Navy between 1977 and 1980. In August 2006, the Navy announced that after 29 years of operation, the T-44A fleet would be upgraded with modernized avionics systems, and redesignated as T-44Cs. Vendrasco, Stephanie, "Transforming the Pegasus"

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has operated a total of 40 C90 and C90A King Airs, with deliveries beginning in 1973. These have been given various designations by the JMSDF and consist of 34 TC-90 trainers, five LC-90 transports and a single UC-90 which is configured for photographic aerial survey. The TC-90s and the UC-90 comprise the 202 Kyoiku Kokutai (Training Squadron) based at Tokushima, Tokushima, while the LC-90s are attached to various P-3 Orion Kokutais (Squadrons) and a NAMC YS-11 KokutaiJapan Maritime Defence Force Order of Battle accessed via this webpage, retrieved 2007-10-09. as liaison aircraft. In late 2005 the JMSDF marked 500,000 accident-free flying hours of the TC-90 trainer fleet Hawker Beechcraft Press Release retrieved 2007-10-09.. Air Force One During the administration of President of the United States Lyndon Johnson, the United States Air Force acquired a Model B90 King Air "off-the-shelf". With the military designation of VC-6A, the aircraft, serialled 66-7943 A list of civil aircraft types used by the US military retrieved 2007-09-03., was used to transport President Johnson between Bergstrom Air Force Base (near Austin, Texas) and the Johnson family ranch near Johnson City, Texas. When Johnson was aboard, the aircraft used the callsign Air Force One. This aircraft is now on display, with other presidential aircraft, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.

Modification and Upgrade Programmes As might be expected for the most prolific type in its class, several "after-market" modifications and upgrades are available for 90 and 100 Series King Airs A list of STCs available for King Air series aircraft retrieved 2007-09-20.. One upgrade package involves earlier-build 90 Series aircraft being re-engined with the PT6A-135A engines of the C90GT. This package is offered by Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. as the Blackhawk XP Blackhawk Modifications Inc. Blackhawk XP page retrieved 2007-09-20.. A more radical re-engining programme is the Kilo Alpha 290, which involves the replacement of the PT6s in C90 and E90 King Airs with TPE-331s Kilo Alpha web page retrieved 2007-10-16.. Avia Design offers a Wing Front Spar Reinforcement Kit for both 90 and 100 Series aircraft, while Raisbeck Inc. (a company that has been heavily involved in developing modifications for the entire King Air line) offers a modification involving the fitment of Hartzell propellers designed to increase aircraft performance and reduce noise inside the cabin FAA STC No. SA3593NM retrieved 2007-09-20.. Sierra Nevada Corporation offers a modification for the entire King Air line that entails reworking and extending the entire nose FAA STC No. SA00367SE retrieved 2007-09-20. to house a baggage compartment as well as the avionics normally found in the noses of King Air aircraft. Many of the modifications available are offered by Commuter Air Technology (CAT), together with some of its own modifications, as a complete package, resulting in reduced maintenance costs, improved handling and increased performance Commuter Air Technology King Air 90 page retrieved 2007-09-20. Commuter Air Technology King Air 100 page retrieved 2007-09-20.. Modifications available for the King Air 100 include a belly cargo pod developed by CAT, similar to the pods fitted to the Beech 99 and the Model 1300 version of the King Air 200 series.

Operators Military operators , currently displayed at White Sands Missile Range Museum Eight C90A King Airs were operated by Bombardier on behalf of the Canadian Air Force. These were used as multi-engine trainers and flew with Canadian civil registrations. All entered service in 1992 List of civil-registered aircraft of the Canadian Armed Forces retrieved 2007-10-09. and were sold by 2005The current status of the eight aircraft was obtained by performing searches of the relevant constructor's numbers in the LAASdata Turboprops database, which shows that all eight aircraft were registered in the USA by September 2005. Searches conducted 2007-10-09..

Governmental operators

The Department of Civil Aviation of Papua New Guinea operated a C90 King Air for a number of years, but now operates a Model 200 Super King Air.

Civil operators

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia previously operated a large number of 90 Series King Airs, but retired the last example in 2006, standardising on the King Air 200 Series and the Pilatus PC-12 for its fleet requirements. Two of the former RFDS C90 King Airs are now operated by the New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Variants A total of almost 3,100 King Air 90 and 100 series aircraft have been delivered.

"Proof-of-concept" test aircraft; one built (c/no. LG-1). Prototypes and first production model; 112 built (c/nos. LJ-1 to LJ-113, except LJ-76). 206 built (c/nos. LJ-76, LJ-114 to LJ-317; includes c/no. LJ-178A), one (c/no. LJ-153) to US Army as VC-6A. Based on the Model 87; 141 built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LM-1 to LM-141). Based on the Model 87; three built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LS-1 to LS-3). Based on the Model 87; two built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LT-1 and LT-2). Based on the Model 87; 16 built and delivered to the US Army (c/nos. LU-1 to LU-16). Third civil model; 184 built (c/nos. LJ-318 to LJ-501), one (c/no. LJ-320) to USAF as VC-6A. 507 built (c/nos. LJ-502 to LJ-1010, except LJ-986 and LJ-996). 54 built (c/nos. LJ-986 and LJ-996, LJ-1011 to LJ-1062). Current production model (as of September 2007); at least 100 builtThe last King Air C90GT built as of September 2007 is shown in the available online sources ( LAASdata King Air 90 list and various nations' online civil aircraft Registers) as c/no. LJ-1871, however there is a gap for registered King Airs; c/nos. LJ-1857 to LJ-1870 are not listed. There is an online advertisement for King Air c/no. LJ-1862, describing it as a 2008 model C90GTi available for delivery in late 2007. This suggests that at least some of the aircraft between c/nos LJ-1857 and LJ-1870 have not yet been built (as of September 2007). (c/nos. LJ-1754, LJ-1757 and after). Manufactured concurrently with the C90; 347 built (c/nos. LW-1 to LW-347). Prototype and production model with T-tail of the Super King Air; 203 built (c/nos. LA-1 to LA-204, except LA-202). Follow-on from F90; 34 built (c/nos. LA-202, LA-205 to LA 237). F90 prototype re-engined with Garrett TPE331s in place of the Pratt & Whitney PT6s originally fitted, c/no. LA-1. Version manufactured for the US Navy; 61 built (c/nos. LL-1 to LL-61). Prototype and first production "long fuselage" King Air version; 90 built (c/nos B-1 to B-89 and B-93). 157 built (c/nos B-90 to B-247, except B-93), prototype Model 100 c/no. B-1 also converted to A100 model in 1976, three years after introduction of A100 model. Five (c/nos. B-95 to B-99) to US Army as U-21Fs. Prototype (converted from A100 c/no. B-205) plus production model, all with Garrett TPE331 engines instead of Pratt & Whitney PT6s fitted to previous models; 137 built (c/nos BE-1/B-205, BE-2 to BE-137). Beechcraft designation for first three production Model 200 Super King Airs delivered to the US Army (c/nos. BB-3 to BB-5).

Other information The ICAO designator, such as might be used in a PIREP or a flight plan, for the various King Airs are BE90 (various model 90s), and BE10 (model 100).With the exception of the F90 and F90-1, all 90 Series King Airs have been produced under the same Type Certificate (Number 3A20) as used for Queen Air production. All 100 Series King Airs were produced under the same Type Certificate (Number A14CE) as used for Model 99 production.

Specifications King Air C90GT Specifications obtained from the FAA Type Certificate and the Hawker Beechcraft website Queen Air and King Air 90 series Type Certificate Data Sheet retrieved 2007-09-20. Hawker Beechcraft C90GTi Specifications retrieved 2007-09-20.{{aircraft specifications]A-135A|type of prop= turboprops, driving Hartzell HC-E4N-3N propellers|number of props= 2|power main= 550 shp|power alt=410 kW

|max speed main= 260 mph Indicated Air Speed (IAS)|max speed alt= 226 kts IAS, 416 km/h IAS|cruise speed main= 311 mph True Air Speed (TAS)|cruise speed alt= 270 knots TAS, 500 km/h TAS|stall speed main= 90 mph|stall speed alt= 78 knots, 145 km/h|stall speed more= IAS (flaps down)|range main= 1,530 miles|range alt= 1,321 nm, 2,446 km|ceiling main= 30,000ft|ceiling alt= 9,144 m|climb rate main= 2,003 ft/min|climb rate alt= 10.2 m/s|loading main= 34.3 lb/ft²|loading alt= 170 kg/m²|power/mass main= 0.099 hp/lb|power/mass alt= 179 W/kg-->

King Air B100 Specifications obtained from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 1997/98 EditionFrawley, Gerald. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 1997/98 Edition. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd. Canberra ACT, 1997. ISBN 1 875671 26 9.{{aircraft specifications]-6-251B or -252|type of prop= turboprops, driving 3-bladed propellers] to 715 shp|power alt=533 kW

|max speed main= 307 mph Indicated Air Speed (IAS)|max speed alt= 265 kts IAS, 491 km/h IAS|cruise speed main=|cruise speed alt=|stall speed main=|stall speed alt=|stall speed more= IAS (flaps down)|range main= 1,525 miles|range alt= 1,325 nm, 2,455 km|ceiling main= 24,850 ft|ceiling alt= 7,574 m|climb rate main= 2,140 ft/min|climb rate alt= 10.87 m/s|loading main= 42.2 lb/ft²|loading alt= 205.84 kg/m²|power/mass main= 0.121 hp/lb|power/mass alt= 199.17 W/kg-->

References, Notes and Sources References and Notes Sources

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