Beechcraft King Air B100
Beechcraft · USA · first flew 1975 · transport aircraft
The King Air B100 is the Garrett-engined King Air, using TPE331 turboprops rather than the Pratt & Whitney PT6A fitted to all other King Air variants — the engine cowling shape is the primary recognition feature, as the TPE331 is a straight-flow design with exhaust exiting at the rear of the nacelle, contrasting with the PT6A's reverse-flow front exhaust.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Intermediate fuselage length between the 90-series and 200-series — longer than C90/E90 but shorter than 200; window count confirms this |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Garrett TPE331-6 straight-flow engines exhaust at the rear of the nacelle — chunky side-mounted exhaust stubs visible aft of the cowling, contrasting with the PT6A's reverse-flow front exhaust on all other King Air variants
- Conventional tail (not T-tail) distinguishes the B100 from the F90 and King Air 200; the fin and horizontal stabiliser arrangement is similar to the E90
- Intermediate fuselage length between the 90-series and 200-series — longer than C90/E90 but shorter than 200; window count confirms this
The Garrett TPE331's exhaust exits at the rear of the nacelle — look for side-mounted exhaust stubs aft of the cowling; all PT6A King Airs exhaust at the front of the nacelle. Against F90: F90 has a T-tail; B100 has a conventional tail. Against King Air 200: 200 is longer with a T-tail and PT6A engines (front exhaust). Conventional tail plus rear-exhaust nacelles is the B100 combination no other King Air shares.
Specifications
- The Beechcraft King Air B100 has a length of 12.2 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 496 km/h (308 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The A100 first flew 1969; the B100 followed in 1975 with the TPE331-6 engines giving higher cruise speeds. Approximately 137 B100s were built through 1983 when production ended. The Garrett engine gave better performance at altitude but the PT6A's reputation for reliability and the streamlined 200-series ultimately captured the market. The B100 is a relatively uncommon King Air variant.
Variants
A100 (predecessor, TPE331-3 engines), B100 (TPE331-6, minor refinements). Beechcraft produced no further 100-series after the B100.
Where you'll see it
Business aviation and charter operations worldwide. Some military use (US Army UC-12 series used PT6-powered King Airs, not B100). A moderate number still active in charter and cargo roles in North America.
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