Beechcraft King Air
Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1963 · light aircraft
The Beechcraft King Air family is the world's best-selling line of turboprop business aircraft, in continuous production since 1964 and used by corporate, charter, and government operators worldwide. Its reliability, pressurised cabin, and PT6A engines have made it the definitive twin turboprop.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | T-shaped oval windows along pressurised fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin PT6A turboprops on a low tapered wing with dihedral
- T-shaped oval windows along pressurised fuselage
- Retractable gear with characteristic Beechcraft nose profile
Identify by the twin turboprop nacelles on the low tapered wing with dihedral, oval pressurised windows, retractable tricycle gear, and the classic Beechcraft rounded fuselage nose. Various series differ mainly in fuselage length and engine size.
Specifications
- The Beechcraft King Air has a length of 12.1 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.98 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 536 km/h (333 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the piston-powered Queen Air, the King Air 90 entered service in 1964 and spawned a long family including the 100, 200, 250, 300, and 350 series. Military variants have served in surveillance, medevac, and transport roles.
Variants
The family spans from the King Air 90 through the enlarged 200 and the stretched 350 with winglets; military variants include the RC-12 Guardrail intelligence platform and numerous ISR-configured aircraft for multiple nations.
Where you'll see it
Operated by private owners, charter companies, and air forces on every continent; the RAF operated the King Air B200 as the Beechcraft Shadow R1 for surveillance, and it remains widely used in UK general aviation.
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- Beechcraft King Air C90B
- Beechcraft Musketeer
- Beechcraft U-21 Ute
- Beechcraft Queen Air A65
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