Photograph:
Beech King Air 65-A90 VH-BIB (c/n LJ-227) at Bankstown, NSW in October 1973 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
(E90)
Two 507 kw (680 eshp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 turboprops
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 15.32 m (50 ft 3 in)
- Length: 10.82 m (33 ft 6 in)
- Height: 4.33 m (14 ft 2½ in)
- Wing area: 27.3 m² (293.9 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 3,655 m (12,000 ft): 462 km/h (287 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 4,875 m (16,000 ft): 459 km/h ((285 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 6,400 m (21,000 ft): 454 km/h (282 mph)
- Service ceiling: 8,419 m (27,620 ft)
- Max range at 4,875 m (16,000 ft): 2,742 km (1,704 miles)
- Max range at 6,400 m (21,000 ft): 3,009 km (1,807 miles)
- Empty weight: 2,665 kg (5,876 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,581 kg (10,100 lb)
History:
The prototype Beech King Air (N5690K), known as the Beech 65-90, was flown for the first time on 20 January 1964. In appearance it was similar to a Queen Air with turboprops. Soon after its first flight, the US Army ordered the type and, fitted with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-6 engines, it entered service as the RU-21. The King Air proved to be very popular, and some 1,750 examples of the 90 series in a variety of variants was built.
Deliveries of the King Air began in October 1963. In 1966 the A90 with PT6A-20 engines was released. This was an un-pressurised version which was supplied in some numbers to the US Army as the U-21A. This variant provided accommodation for up to ten combat troops, or three casualty stretchers, plus two seated casualties.
The next model, the B90, was also fitted with PT6A-20 engines. It was followed by the C90, the cheapest of the King Air range, which was fitted with 410 kw (550 eshp) PT6A-21 engines and had less fuel capacity.
The 90 series continued through to the E90, which was replaced by the F90. The latter was, in effect, a short-bodied version of the Super King Air 200, using the fuselage, ‘T’-tail and PT6A-41 engines of that aircraft but with a short-span wing.
In 1969 the King Air 100 series was introduced with more powerful PT6A-28 engines, the cabin lengthened by 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in), the wingspan reduced, and other changes. This model had seating for six/eight passengers but up to thirteen could be accommodated for commuter use. This was followed by the A100 with some refinements, and the B100, which used Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-6-252B turboprops, thus making it the only King Air model not to use Pratt & Whitney engines. Production of the 100 series ceased in 1984 after 350 examples had been built.
In 1986 production version was the C90A with 410 kw (550 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21 engines, this featuring a standard fuselage mounted tailplane; and the F90-1 with reduced span wings, 560 kw (750 shp) PT6A-135A engines and a T-tail.
In 1994 the C90SE Special Edition was released and remained in production alongside the C90B, which was introduced in 1991. These were supplemented by the C90B Jaguar Special Edition in 1998, which was finished in the colours of the Jaguar car company and had the famous cat emblem on the tail.
About eight examples of the 90 and 100 series have appeared on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register over the years.