Improvements shorten takeoff distance to 1,984 feet, making more airports accessible
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 20, 2014 – Beechcraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition that beginning in Q4 2014, the latest model of the Beechcraft King Air C90GTx will offer new standard features that deliver shorter takeoff and landing distances, better handling characteristics and enhanced passenger experience. “This is the latest in a long series of continuous enhancements we have introduced to the King Air 90 series. The new Beechcraft King Air C90GTx looks stunning on the ramp and performs like no other,” said Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Turboprop Aircraft. “The most significant of the changes is shortening the takeoff distance by nearly 600 feet (182 meters), opening up more airports and getting our owners closer to their final destination.” The increased takeoff, climb and landing performance resulted from the incorporation of Raisbeck Engineering’s performance enhancements consisting of swept-blade propellers and dual aft body strakes. The new King Air C90GTx features the Hartzell swept blade turbofan propeller with a 30-degree blade sweep and 96-inch diameter (6-inch increase over existing). The propeller provides more takeoff and climb thrust with less noise in the cockpit. The aircraft’s takeoff distance was reduced by 23 percent, from 2,575 feet to 1,984 feet. While slower approach speeds provide 10 percent shorter landing distances over a 50 foot obstacle from 2,400 feet to 2,160 feet. In addition to the new propeller, dual aft body strakes have been added to improve directional stability at low speeds, passenger ride quality and aircraft handling characteristics. Other improvements include a new high-speed nose gear tire and updates to the Collins Pro Line 21™ flight displays. Flight testing and certification was conducted under a joint program by Raisbeck Engineering and Beechcraft. This year, Beechcraft celebrates the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the business turboprop King Air series, which is one of the best-selling business aircraft families in the world. Since 1964, Beechcraft has delivered nearly 7,200 King Airs with the worldwide fleet having surpassed 60 million flight hours. The King Air C90GTx is the entry level of the twin-turboprop family. The aircraft comes standard with a fully integrated Collins Pro Line 21™ avionics system, an in-flight accessible, heated and pressurized baggage storage area along with a private aft lavatory. Featuring a cabin 50 percent larger than some very light jets, the King Air C90GTx seats up to seven passengers in its famed squared-oval design, allowing greater passenger comfort. About Textron Aviation Inc. Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit textronaviation.com.
About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com