A new model of the Beechcraft King Air, the C90GTx, was introduced Monday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. “The C90GTx is the latest example of our commitment to keeping the Beechcraft King Air family the most successful turboprop lineup in aviation history,” said Bill Boisture, CEO of Hawker Beechcraft Corp. The new version of the airplane features new composite winglets and a 200nm range increase over the earlier GTi model. It will carry four people nonstop for 1,000 nm. The maximum takeoff weight of the airplane has been increased, allowing for a payload of 750 pounds with full fuel, almost double what it was for earlier models. The company is now taking orders and first deliveries will take place in 2010.
Starting this fall, current King Air owners can retrofit their aircraft to the GTx capability. Also, the company has started deliveries of about two dozen special mission King Air 350ER aircraft to the U.S. Air Force to provide airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The first of those recently completed its first combat mission in Iraq.
