Full Fuel Payload Doubled In New Model
By Robbie Culver
In more than 45 years
of continuous production, more than 6600 King Air's have rolled off
the production line. Now, Hawker Beechcraft has a new entry-level
King Air model positioned as an alternative to the light-jet
market. With sales doubling from 2003 to 2008, and
Hawker-Beechcraft used customer-focused product development efforts
to implement the features their customers wanted. The result is a
brand new model of King Air, based on the popular C90GTi. According
to Hawker Beechcraft, this marks the 8th major upgrade to the King
Air line since 2003.
Shawn Vick
On opening day at EAA's Airventure 2009, the company announced
the new King Air C90GTx, which expands the operating capabilities
of the legendary King Air even further, with expanded useful load,
increased rates of climb, and higher fuel efficiency which the
company labels as "impressive enhancements to both payload and
performance while remaining one of the greenest and most efficient
aircraft available." The new King Air is positioned as having the
"go anywhere capability, versatility and quality turboprop that
VLJs can’t match." Through the use of composite winglets,
which are also available as an STC retrofit on older C-model King
Air's, the new C90GTx will carry 4 passengers 1000 nm with full
NBAA IFR reserves, with an increase in full-fuel payload of 385
pounds.While the aircraft is not on display at Airventure, the full
line of other King Air and Premier aircraft models on view at the
corporation's display in AeroShell square. Orders were being taken
at Airventure with deliveries planned for early 2010.
“The C90GTx is the latest example of our commitment to
keeping the Beechcraft King Air family the most successful
turboprop lineup in aviation history,” said Bill Boisture,HBC
Chairman and CEO in a company press release.“We took an
outstanding product, the C90GTi, and made it even better in the new
C90GTx.”
According to Hawker Beechcraft, the maximum ramp weight and
maximum takeoff weight of the C90GTx have been increased by 385
pounds to 10,545 and 10,485 pounds respectively, and it is this
increase in maximum weight which provides the new C90GTx with a
full-fuel payload capability almost double that of the C90GTi and
ahead of any entry-level jet.
At the press conference, Hawker Beechrcraft's Shawn Vick
reviewed the aircraft's capabilities, explaining the new model has
the Rockwell-Collins integrated Pro-Line 21 avionics suite
typically found in larger aircraft, upgraded, turbulence-detecting
Doppler weather radar and WAAS GPS as standard equipment, and a
cabin width that exceeds most very light jets by 50%. With seating
for up to 7 passengers, including a private aft lavatory, and an
in-flight accessible pressurized heated baggage area.
King Air's are reknown for their reliability, rugged operational
experience, and ease of operation. The new model builds on the
heritage and continues to offer a known economic operational
envelope with capabilities of using smaller rural airports that
jets may not be capable of utilizing.
Hawker Beechcraft also reports strong business activity with the
March 2009 first delivery of the USAF's King Air 350ER special
mission aircraft as part of "Project Liberty," ongoing growth of
the T-6A trainer program, and ongoing special mission warfighting
solutions for the US military.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (11.25.25)
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