There’s a new flagship Beechcraft King Air, the 360/360ER, announced this week by Textron Aviation.
The King Air 360/360ER has cockpit upgrades, a redesigned cabin, and enhancements to passenger comfort. The aircraft is currently in production with customer deliveries expected to begin later in 2020.
A key feature of the King Air 360 cockpit is the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle.
The autothrottle supports pilots by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, go-around and landing phases of flight. It reduces pilot workload and supports them in their continuous vigilance to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions.
There’s also a new digital pressurisation controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurisation during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort.
The latest King Air has seating for up to nine passengers, and a cabin altitude of 5,960ft at a typical cruising altitude of 27,000ft.
The redesigned cabin has custom-built cabinetry, partitions and side ledges, upgraded materials and finishes, along with all new interior schemes. Standard kit on the entire King Air line-up includes pull-out work tables, standard power outlets, USB charging stations and a private aft lavatory.
“We created an environment that provides passengers with a greater sense of openness inside the King Air,” said Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Customer Experience.
“The cabin experience is such a critical element when choosing an aircraft, and it was important for us to surpass customer expectations. Their journey will not only be comfortable, but also a relaxing, enjoyable experience.”
Nearly 7,600 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964, making it the best-selling business turboprop family in the world. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 62 million flight hours in its 56 years, serving roles in all branches of the military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world.
