BEECHCRAFT 300

The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now the Beechcraft Division of Hawker Beechcraft). The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series (these models comprising the King Air family), Model 200 series and Model 300 series. The latter two models were originally marketed as the "Super King Air" family, but the "Super" was dropped in 1996.

The Super King Air family has been in continuous production since 1974, the longest production run of any civilian turboprop aircraft in its class. It has outlasted all of its previous competitors and as of 2007 the only other aircraft in its class is the Piaggio Avanti. As of December 2008, the B200, B200GT and the larger B300 are the production models. Special mission derivative versions of these models are also available for order.

Model 300/350 Super King Air

King Air 350 operated by AeroPearl, used for checking navaids in Australia on behalf of Airservices Australia

Beechcraft Super King Air 350 at Meadows Field Airport, Bakersfield, California

One of eight King Air 350s in service with No. 32 Squadron RAAF



B200 modified as Air Ambulance with large B200C-style door, stretcher lifter and wing lockers

The 200 series proved so popular that Beechcraft began work on a successor, with the Beechcraft designation Model 300 and marketed as the "Super King Air 300". The B200's airframe was 'cleaned up' and even more powerful engines (PT6A-60A, rated at 1050 shp) installed in redesigned cowlings (known as "pitot cowlings" due to the reshaped engine air intakes), with MTOW increased to 14,000 lb (6,300 kg). A Model 200 (c/no. BB-343) was modified to develop the updated systems to be used on the new model and flew in this configuration on 6 October 1981. The first flight of the prototype Model 300 took place on 3 September 1983 and deliveries commenced the following year. Because not all nations would then allow an aircraft of this type to be certified at an MTOW greater than 12,500 lb (5,700 kg), the Model 300LW was also developed at the same time, limited to the lower MTOW. Nineteen examples of a special version of the Model 300 were delivered to the FAA in 1987 and 1988. The first two were conversions of standard Model 300s, while the remaining 17 were purpose-built; since they were delivered the FAA has used the fleet to check the extensive network of navaids in the USA. 200 and 300 Series King Airs are or have been used for similar duties in several other countries, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong (a B200C used for navaid calibration was the first aircraft to land at the then-new Chek Lap Kok Airport in 1996), Sweden and Taiwan.

By 1988, Beechcraft had begun work on the replacement for the 300. The fuselage of the 300 was stretched by nearly three feet with two extra cabin windows on each side and winglets added to the wingtips to create the Model B300, introduced in 1990 and initially marketed as the "Super King Air 350". MTOW was increased again to 15,000 lb (6,750 kg); as the same regulatory situation that led to the development of the 300LW still existed, that model continued to be produced until 1994. Like the 200 and B200 before it, a version with a large cargo door was developed, the Model B300C marketed as the "Super King Air 350C". The first deliveries of this model also took place in 1990. In 1998 the UltraQuiet Active Noise Cancelling made by Ultra Electronics was added as standard equipment on all B300s. In October 2003 Beechcraft announced that it would deliver future B300 and B300C King Airs with the Rockwell Collins Proline 21 avionics suite.

The B300 model is still in production today (now marketed simply as the "King Air 350", the "Super" being dropped in 1996 as mentioned earlier), while the B300C is available for order; four were built in 2007 and Hawker Beechcraft announced on 11 November 2007 that it would deliver five to Saudi Arabia in 2008 for use as Air Ambulances.

On 13 June 2005 Beechcraft announced at the Paris Air Show that it was developing the "King Air 350ER" version of the B300, an equivalent to the earlier Model 200T and B200Ts of the 200 series. Changes include an increase of MTOW to 16,500 lb (7,430 kg), provision for surveillance equipment in a belly pod, the landing gear of the Beechcraft 1900 to handle the increased weight and provide ground clearance for the belly pod, and extra fuel capacity in the engine nacelles to increase (because of the B300s winglets it was unfeasible to fit wingtip fuel tanks as found on the 200T and B200T). On 11 November 2007 Hawker Beechcraft announced that the 350ER had been certified by the FAA.

In October 2008 Beechcraft announced the "King Air 350i", an updated version with improvements to the passenger cabin. The manufacturer claims that its noise level and overall comfort are now competitive with those of light jets.

VARIOUS MODELS

Model 300
Two versions, the standard Model 300 with increased MTOW of 14,000 lb (6,300 kg) and the Model 300LW with MTOW limited to 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) to meet the aviation regulatory requirements of various countries. 247 built (c/nos. FA-1 to FA-230 and FF-1 to FF-19; FA-126 and FA-129 converted to FF-1 and FF-2), of which 35 were Model 300LWs.

* C/nos. FF-1 to FF-19 were built specifically for the FAA for use in navaid calibration.

Model B300
Stretched model with two extra cabin windows each side of forward fuselage and winglets on wingtips; in production as King Air 350 and King Air 350ER. About 630 built as of December 2008 (c/nos. FL-1 and after).

* C/nos. FL-381, FL-383 and after fitted with Proline 21 avionics
* C/no. FL-424 modified as King Air 350ER prototype, c/nos. FL-546, FL-568, FL-599, FL-618, FL-623 to FL-626, FL-628 and FL-629 built as 350ERs.

Model B300C
Version of B300 with cargo door; available for order. 26 built as of the end of 2008 (c/nos. FM-1 to FM-25 and FN-1).

* C/nos. FN-1 built for the Swiss Air Force with modifications for aerial surveillance.
* C/nos. FM-12 and after fitted with Proline 21 avionics
* C/nos. FM-14, FM-16 to FM-18 and FM-21 modified prior to delivery with underwing hardpoints and delivered as B300CERs.

Model B200GT
Updated version of B200; current civil production model. About 80 built as of December 2008 (c/nos BY-1 and after).

Model B200CGT
Updated version of B200C; available for order but none built as of December 2008 (c/nos BZ-1 and after).

The ICAO designator, such as might be used in a PIREP or a flight plan, for the various Super King Airs are BE20 (model 200), BE30 (model 300), and B350 (model 350).