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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.

The Beechcraft 1900 regional airliner was derived from the Model 200 King Air.

Development

Model 200 Super King Air

The Model 200 was originally conceived as the Model 101 in 1969, and was a development of the Model 100 King Air. The Model 200 had essentially the same fuselage as the Model 100, with changes to the rear fuselage to accommodate a new T-tail (in place of the 100's conventional tail with all-moving trimmable horizontal stabiliser) and structural changes to allow higher maximum pressurisation. Apart from the T-tail, other changes included Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines rated at 850 shp abbr=on instead of the 680 shp abbr=on engines of the Model A100 then in production, and a wing of increased span and extra fuel capacity. Overall, the 200 was 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) longer than the A100, with wingspan 4 ft 3 in (1.29 m) greater, containing 60 US gallons (230 l) more fuel. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) was increased by 1,000 lb (450 kg). After protracted development including extensive wind tunnel testing of the design (especially of the T-tail which was tunnel-tested for 375 hours), the first prototype flew for the first time on 27 October 1972; From October 1995 Beechcraft offered an updated B200 with Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) avionics, this was marketed as the ''B200SE Super King Air'' (for Special Edition). The following year the ''Super'' name was dropped from all marketing and advertising. In October 2003 Beechcraft announced another avionics upgrade for the B200,

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force operates a solitary B300 on maritime patrol and reconnaissance duties.

Modification and upgrade programs

Numerous ''after-market'' modifications and upgrades are available for 200 and 300 Series King Airs. One company offers a Wing Front Spar Reinforcement Kit for 200 Series aircraft and a modification to replace the electro-mechanical landing gear retraction system of early-build aircraft with an electro-hydraulic system.

Another company offers a modification for the entire King Air line that entails reworking and extending the entire nose to house a baggage compartment as well as the avionics normally found in the noses of King Air aircraft; while another offers winglets, similar to those of the B300, for 200 series and other 300 series King Airs.

A modification to install a Forward looking infrared camera in an extended nose in B200 King Airs is available. Other modifications available are to convert standard 200 Series King Airs to configurations equivalent to the Model 1300 or Model 200C and B200C King Airs; and to modify B300s (typically delivered with an eight-seat corporate interior) to allow more passengers and baggage to be carried.

Operational history

Super King Airs of the Argentine Navy saw active service during the Falklands War of 1982, used on night-time transport missions between Argentina and the islands.

A B300 was used as the presidential transport aircraft of Paraguay between 1991 and 1994.

On 26 February 2004 the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, was killed with eight others in the crash of a Model 200 Super King Air operated as a transport aircraft of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

On 24 June 1996, the 5,000th King Air, a Model B300, was delivered. Less than nine years later, on 24 January 2005, the 6,000th Beechcraft King Air, B200 c/no. BB-1884, was delivered. Beechcraft also delivered a special 40th Anniversary King Air (which was the 400th B300 as well) in 2005; the aircraft featured ruby-coloured exterior paint and real rubies in a special logo in the cabin.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) is a long-term major operator of B200 and B200C King Airs (and previously Queen Airs and 90 series King Airs) as Air Ambulances. In all about 40 200 series King Airs have served with the RFDS. One was destroyed in a fatal crash near Mount Gambier, South Australia on 10 December 2001 while others have been retired and replaced by newer King Airs. As of January 2009 the RFDS operates 34 200 series King Airs throughout Australia.

A large number of military King Airs have been retired and of these, many have entered civil service with Law Enforcement and other government organisations in the United States such as State Police and Sheriff Departments; others are now being used by the Missionary Aviation Fellowship and subsidiary organisations.

Beechcraft intended that the Super King Air would be replaced by the Starship, a very advanced aircraft that proved to be a commercial failure due to its inferior performance compared to promises, and high purchase price. While most of the Starship fleet has been scrapped, the King Air continues to sell in healthy numbers.

Variants

In roughly chronological order, the 200 and 300 Series King Air variants and production numbers are:

Specifications (King Air B200)

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