Beechcraft King Air 90

Summary

Category	Other aircraft
Origin country	🇺🇸 United States
First flight	1 January 1964
Year of introduction	1964
Number produced	3100 units

Description

The Beechcraft King Air is a line of American twin-turboprop aircraft originally developed by Beech Aircraft Corporation. The first model, the King Air 90, made its maiden flight on January 20, 1964. Beechcraft aimed to fill a gap in the market for a versatile, twin-engine turboprop that could be used for a range of applications including corporate, military, and regional airline operations. The King Air series quickly gained popularity for its performance, reliability, and versatility. Over time, various models have been introduced with different configurations, ranges, and capabilities. The King Air family has been one of the most successful and enduring lines in aviation history, and production continues to this day under Textron Aviation, which acquired Beechcraft in 2014.

The Beechcraft King Air features a conventional, low-wing monoplane design with a T-tail configuration. It's equipped with twin turboprop engines, typically Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A variants, mounted on the wings. The aircraft is characterized by its robust, retractable landing gear designed for use on both paved and rough airstrips, enhancing its versatility. The cockpit is designed for a crew of two but can be operated by a single pilot, depending on the model and its certification.

The cabin is designed for comfort and can be configured for a variety of missions, from passenger transport to cargo and special missions. While the specific dimensions and configurations can vary depending on the model, the interior generally provides a spacious environment relative to the aircraft's overall size. Noise-reduction features are often implemented to improve the in-flight experience, and many models offer amenities like pressurization and air conditioning.

Aerodynamically, the King Air is designed for stability and efficiency, capable of short takeoffs and landings (STOL). Its relatively high wing loading makes it stable in turbulent conditions, and its wing design, incorporating features like winglets in some models, helps in achieving fuel efficiency.

Operational history

For civilian operations, the King Air 90 series quickly found favor in corporate aviation circles upon its introduction in 1964. Its versatility allowed it to be used in a wide array of applications including air taxi services, executive transport, and even air ambulance roles. The 100 series, essentially a stretched version of the 90 series, offered additional seating and followed a similar path, appealing to those needing slightly larger capacity.

Both series have also been used in regional airline settings, charter operations, and for tasks like aerial surveying, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring. The series’ ability to land on short and unimproved runways made them particularly valuable in remote locations.

Both the King Air 90 and 100 series have been adapted for military use. The U.S. military designated these as the C-6 Ute (90 series) and the C-12 Huron (100 series). These aircraft have been employed for a variety of roles, including VIP transport, light cargo haulage, and medical evacuation. Some have also been outfitted for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Foreign militaries have also operated these variants for similar roles. Countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have used them for training, transport, and maritime patrol.

Variants

Series 90:

King Air 90: The original model, it set the stage for subsequent variants.
A90: An upgraded model with increased maximum takeoff weight and improved performance.
C90: Introduced in 1971, featuring improvements in pressurization and cabin changes.
C90A/B: Came with improved PT6A-21 engines and other incremental upgrades.
C90GT/GTi/GT+/GTX: These are even more modernized versions, featuring efficiency improvements, electronic avionics, and engine upgrades to PT6A-135A engines.
F90: Features four-blade propellers and more powerful PT6A-135 engines.

Series 100:

Model 100: Introduced in 1969 as a stretched version of the Model 90, featuring more powerful PT6A-28 engines.
A100: An updated Model 100 with a higher maximum takeoff weight and other minor tweaks.
B100: A distinct version that opted for Garrett TPE331 engines instead of Pratt & Whitney engines, resulting in different operating characteristics.

For military versions based on these series:

C-6 Ute: A military version of the King Air 90.
UC-12B/F/M: Variants of the C-12 Huron, based on the King Air A100/B100, used primarily by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for utility and personnel transport.

Technical specifications

Version: B100 King Air
Maximum speed	494 km/h (307 mph)
Wing area	26.0 m² (279.7 sqft)
Wingspan	13.8 m (45.1 ft)
Height	4.7 m (15.5 ft)
Length	11.9 m (39.1 ft)
Service ceiling	7574 m (24849 ft)
Empty weight	3217 kg (7092 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	5352 kg (11799 lbs)
Climb rate	10.87 m/s (35.7 ft/s)
Powerplant	2 × turboprops Garrett TPE331-6-251B delivering 626 kW

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	United States	326 (+2)
	Algeria	24
	Colombia	24
	Japan	24
	Israel	22
	Saudi Arabia	15 (+4)
	Mexico	14
	Morocco	13
	Australia	12
	Turkey	12
	Pakistan	11
	Argentina	10
	Canada	10
	United Kingdom	10
	Ecuador	9
	Venezuela	8
	Iraq	7
	Bolivia	6
	Malaysia	5
	Philippines	5
	United Arab Emirates	5
	Greece	4
	Peru	4
	South Africa	4
	France	3
	Malta	3
	Panama	3
	Spain	3
	Guatemala	2
	Italy	2
	New Zealand	2
	Nigeria	2
	Sri Lanka	2
	Thailand	2
	Togo	2
	Uruguay	2
	Bahamas	1
	Botswana	1
	Burkina Faso	1
	Eritrea	1
	Honduras	1
	Ivory Coast	1
	Jamaica	1
	Nicaragua	1
	Niger	1
	South Korea	1
	Switzerland	1
	Kuwait	0 (+4)