Beechcraft Super King Air

Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft

United States | 1972

"The popular Beechraft Super King Air forms the basis for several notable military models - including the C-12 Huron."

Image from official Beechcraft marketing materials; King Air 360 pictured.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/04/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Civilian utility aircraft often prove versatile enough that they become just as popular in the military marketplace as anywhere else. This proved the case with the Beechcraft King Air series after it was introduced in September of 1964. A major variant of the family line became the "Super King Air" form which went on to find homes in many of the inventories of major military players including the United States Air Force (USAF). The Super King Air was flown in prototype form in October of 1972 and saw service introduction (for military service interestingly enough) that same year. The civilian market, utility-minded form followed in February of 1974.

With notable, serial production starting in 1974, the Super King Air has remained in manufacture since with totals nearing 4,000 units. The Beechcraft 1900 series and C-12 "Huron" both owe their originations to the popular Super King Air.

The Super King Air follows the same form and function of its predecessor. It sports a lengthened, pointed nosecone ahead of the side-by-side seating cockpit. The straight-edged, clipped monoplane wings are seated low against the fuselage sides and well-ahead of midships. The fuselage is lined with windows for passenger viewing. The tail unit relies on a T-style plane arrangement. Each wing is home to a single turboprop engine housed in a streamlined nacelle. Depending on production model, this powerplant may drive anywhere between three to five blades. Ground-running is accomplished by a tricycle undercarriage that is completely retractable into the aircraft to maintain streamlining.

Modern Super King Airs are powered by the popular Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6 series turboprop engine offering the needed performance.

The Super King Air line began with the Model 200 of which 858 were built. The U.S. Army took three of these into inventory under the A100-1 designation for evaluations. This led to the A200 of which 75 were built for the service as well as the USAF. The 200T offered wingtip fuel tanks for increased range as well as revised windows and a modular ventral section for equipment. Just 23 of this mark were delivered.

The A200C was used by the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) and was delivered with a cargo door at the rear portside side of the fuselage to facilitate fuselage entry/exit. Total production equaled 90 units. The 200C was the civilian version of this mark and 36 followed. The civilian market A200CT was the militarized A200CT.

The B200 included updates to separate itself from the earlier Model 200 offering and this definitive form saw production reach 1,157 units before the end. The B200C included the cargo access door and 112 followed including C012F models for the USAF. The B200T were 23 examples of the Model 200T born from existing B200 airframes. The B200CT was the B200C with the optional wingtip fuel tanks. The B200 (also known as the King Air 250) was given new composite "scimitar" style propeller units, winglets, and improved short-field performance.

The B200GT is the modernized form of the B200 for the civilian marketplace. The B200CGT is the B200C for civilian use but production is limited.

The Model 300 primarily consists of the King Air 300 and King Air 350 with the newer King Air 360 since joining the fray. The Model 300 and related 300LW differ in MTOW ratings, the latter reduced from 14,000lb to 12,500lb. The B300 has a lengthened fuselage and features winglets for improved fuel economy and control. The B300C (King Air 350C) has the cargo door and optional underwing hardpoints. This mark includes the related 350iC and 350iCER forms. The 350i is the B300 model of 2009 with upgrades.

The newer model 360 and 360ER (Extended Range) of mid-2020 offers a completely revised internal look as well as auto-throttles and automatic pressurization for higher-altitude flying.

The Model 1300 Commuter exists as a regional airliner model with seating for up to 13 passengers. Additional baggage storage is included. Just fourteen of this mark were made from 1989-1990. The Blackhawk XP67A is a developmental model fitted PT6A-67A engines with five-bladed propellers offering increased power and performance.

In military service, the versatility of the Super King Air shows through as it has been given a wide variety of tasks, depending on the operator, that includes maritime patrol, VIP transport, Electronic Warfare (EW), general reconnaissance, aerial surveillance / surveying, MEDEVAC, border patrol, and flight / crew / systems training. Operating countries range from Algeria and Angola to Venezuela and Yemen. All four U.S. services operate one form of the Super King Air or another. Beyond this, the series also stocks the inventories of government operators including Australia and Britain.

Chile, Hong Kong, Ireland, and Sweden have since retired their fleets.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

August 2020 - The French Air Force has taken delivery of a pair of King Air 350 aircraft to satisfay a standing Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) requirement.

November 2020 - L3Harris Technologies will be converting a trio of King Air 350ER airframes for the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) role for the Canadian National Defense Department (CNDD). The platform will be used in the SPECOPS reconnaissance role.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Beechcraft Super King Air 350 Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft.

2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engine developing 1,050 horsepower driving three-, four-, or five-bladed propeller units.
Propulsion

348 mph
560 kph | 302 kts
Max Speed

35,105 ft
10,700 m | 7 miles
Service Ceiling

2,082 miles
3,350 km | 1,809 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Beechcraft Super King Air 350 Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

46.7 ft
14.22 m
O/A Length

57.9 ft
(17.65 m)
O/A Width

14.3 ft
(4.37 m)
O/A Height

9,954 lb
(4,515 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Beechcraft Super King Air Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft .

None. Special-mission variants outfitted with applicable mission equipment as needed.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Beechcraft Super King Air family line.

Super King Air - Base Series Name.

King Air 200

King Air 200C

King Air 200CT

King Air 200T

King Air A200

King Air A200C

King Air A200CT

King Air B200 - King Air 250 equivalent.

King Air B200C

King Air B200T

King Air B200CT

King Air B200GT

King Air B200CGT

King Air 300

King Air 350

King Air 350C

King Air 350ER - Extended Range variant.

King Air 350i

King Air 350WR

King Air B300 - King Air 300 or 350i equivalent.

King Air B300C - Swiss Air Force variant; King Air 350C equivalent.

King Air 360 - Model of mid-2020; upgraded avionics amongst other revisions.

King Air 360ER - Extended range variant.

Model 1300 Commuter - Regional airliner form.

Blackhawk XP67A - PT6A-67A engines; five-bladed composite propellers; increased power and performance.

C-90A - Royal Canadian Air Force model.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Beechcraft Super King Air. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 3,800 Units
Contractor(s): Beechcraft - USA

National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

[ Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Bolivia; Burkina Faso; Cambodia; Canada; Colombia; Ecuador; Egypt; Eritrea; France; Greece; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; India; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Japan; Malaysia; Malta; Morocco; New Zealand; Nigeria; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; Saudi Arabia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Switzerland; Thailand; Togo; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay; Venezeula; Yemen ]

1 / 1

Image from official Beechcraft marketing materials; King Air 360 pictured.

Similar
Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Beechcraft Super King Air Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft.

Beechcraft King Air

Going Further...
The Beechcraft Super King Air Twin-Engine Utility Aircraft appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)