Beechcraft King Air F90
Beechcraft · USA · first flew 1978 · transport aircraft
The King Air F90 bridges the 90-series and 200-series King Air families by combining the 90-series fuselage with the T-tail and PT6A-135 engines from the 200, creating a distinctive hybrid with the T-tail as its primary recognition feature within the King Air line.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | PT6A-135 engines with four-blade props in the same nacelle profile as the 200-series but on the smaller 90-series fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- T-tail configuration — the horizontal stabiliser is mounted atop the fin, distinguishing the F90 from the conventional-tailed C90 and E90 of the 90-series
- PT6A-135 engines with four-blade props in the same nacelle profile as the 200-series but on the smaller 90-series fuselage
- Shorter fuselage than the King Air 200 or B100 but with the T-tail; the combination of small cabin windows (90-series spacing) and T-tail is unique to the F90 within the King Air line
The T-tail is the single definitive identifier: no other 90-series King Air has it. Against the King Air 200: the 200 has a T-tail too, but the fuselage is longer with different window spacing and a larger tail. The F90's short 90-series fuselage with T-tail is unique. Against the B100: the B100 has conventional tail and Garrett engines vs the F90's T-tail and PT6A.
Specifications
- The Beechcraft King Air F90 has a length of 12.17 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Certificated 1979; approximately 203 F90s built through 1983. The F90 was marketed as offering 200-series performance with 90-series cabin economics. It was followed by the F90-1 (slightly modified) and later the C90GT which applied similar engine upgrades to the conventional-tail 90. The F90 occupies a unique niche and is not easily confused with other King Air variants once the T-tail is noted.
Variants
F90-1 (minor update, 1983), King Air F90 MASH conversion (various operators). The C90GT later brought modern engines to the conventional-tail 90-series.
Where you'll see it
Business aviation worldwide from 1979. Government and charter operators. Several hundred remain in service in the USA, Europe, and Australia.
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