Aircraft Highlight: King Air
I have found that the best aircraft designs stay with us for a very long time. The “tried and true” workhorses in aviation have become legendary and widely recognized. These designs do not come to market to reinvent the wheel or to simply satisfy consumer demand for the “next best thing.” Think of many of the Boeing airliner models, the military C-130 transport plane, Cessna’s single engine 172 and 182. Though many of these planes have been updated over the years with modern avionics, more efficient power-plants and better utility, the basic design of these legendary aircraft has remained true to the original
In business aviation, the King Air turboprop is one of these legends. Hawker Beechcraft, the aircraft’s manufacturer, very justifiably refers to it as “the most successful business aircraft of all time.” Four versions of the King Air are currently available from the company’s website, and over 6000 examples have been built since its inception in the mid 1960’s. I recently saw a nicely refurbished, late 1960’s era King Air 100 sitting on the ramp right next to a newer 2009 King Air 200. Aside from an obvious empennage redesign, the two aircraft looked so similar that an untrained eye may not have been able to tell them apart. For so many design elements to carry through 4 decades of service is a testament to the King Air’s original conception!
In 1964, Beech Aircraft announced the King Air model. A 6-8 seat aircraft capable of 270 mph, short field take-off and landing operations, and over weather capability. At a price point of about $320,000 it was well received and the legend began. There have been several models over the 45 year history, with the most popular being the 90, 100, 200, 300 and 350 models. A book could be written on each model, but in simplest terms, the larger number means a bigger aircraft with more powerful engines. King Airs are very versatile and have been used not only for executive transportation, but for military purposes, surveillance aircraft, air ambulances, and cargo transport.
When deciding which aircraft is best for charter, consider the King Air one of your best choices for shorter trips. You will find the cabin larger than many popular light jets. If you are bringing bulky luggage, golf equipment, or oddly shaped items, the King Air will accommodate these things better too. I recently worked with a sales engineer who had some specialized equipment that had to accompany him to a demonstration and the King Air was the only multi-engine aircraft available for charter that had the versatility to accommodate this equipment. The likelihood of a mechanical delay during a tight itinerary is very low due to its legendary reliability. The King Air can also safely access much shorter runways than most other business aircraft. This may allow you to land closer to your final destination, saving time on the ground.
If the King Air seems to be the right choice for your charter, which model should you charter? In this case, bigger isn’t necessarily better. The 90 model will comfortably transport a family of 4-6 with a lot of luggage while still being able to access that short runway destination. The bigger 200 and 300 or 350 series should be considered with 6-8 passengers, with some even being configured to accommodate 9 or 10 passengers. Remember, the more passengers and stuff you bring, the shorter the range of the aircraft. Be sure to let your charter operator or broker exactly how many in your group and what you want to bring along with you, so he or she can help determine the best aircraft choice.
Ensure that you are flying with an experienced crew. Most properly certified Part 135 operators will provide a crew with more-than-adequate training and experience, but I always recommend doing a little extra due diligence when chartering any aircraft from an unknown source, or for the first time. With King Airs, you might be offered the option of a one-pilot crew, or a two-pilot crew for an additional fee. Always pay for the two-pilot crew. The King Air can be safely operated by one pilot, but why take the chance when chartering? A two person crew eliminates the workload on one pilot and can bring you more piece of mind if there is adverse weather or other unusual conditions on your date of flight.
There isn’t a more versatile or reliable multi-engine turboprop aircraft than the Beechcraft King Air. I read once that at delivery of the 40th anniversary model in 2004, King Airs had been flown about 10 billion miles, or the distance of 143 round trips to Mars! No other model can claim that kind of operational history!
If you have specific questions about planning a charter flight, just a general private aviation question, or would like to share your experiences on this topic, please feel free to contact me directly.
