What’s Do I Need To Know About the Beechcraft King Air 260?
If you are a fan of turboprop engines, you’re in for a treat. Textron Aviation recently announced that they have made adjustments to the most popular business turboprop in the world, the King Air 360, to create an engine that significantly lessens pilot workload by using digital pressurization, among other advanced features. The resulting turboprop is called the King Air 260, and the company has already started production this year with target deliveries and certification expected by early 2021.
(Photo of the Beechcraft King Air 260 from Textron Aviation.)
The Beechcraft King Air 260 is currently being listed at $6.7 million by Textron Aviation. What you’ll be paying for is the cutting-edge technology that the Wichita-based airframer has added to the system. According to Rob Scholl, Textron Aviation Senior Vice President of sales and flight operations, the King Air 260 turboprop has the same versatility and reliability that the King Air franchise is valued for, while being able to fly people where they need to be in a level of comfort unmatched by any other engine. “We are bringing the latest technological advancements to the King Air 260 cockpit that not only bring greater ease of operation for pilots, but they also bring a whole new era of flying for this renowned aircraft,” Scholl explains.
Similar to the King Air 360, the 260 model’s flight deck will be utilizing a digital pressurization controller through Innovative Solutions & Support’s (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle. In the past, pilots had to rely on manual controls to adjust cabin pressure, but now the Autothrottle system can do the task itself, greatly reducing pilot workload across all flight phases while also providing aircraft protection against over-torque situations and possible engine overtemp.
The King Air 260 will also be equipped with a high-quality, weather radar through Collins Aerospace’s Multi-Scan RTA-4112 unit. This fully-automated weather radar is optimized to show pilots an accurate and detailed reporting of the surrounding weather, allowing the pilot to make better flight decisions in adverse weather scenarios. Optional technology is also available through SiriusXM Weather, adding greater scanning capabilities to areas outside of the United States, which includes Puerto Rico and Canada, among others.
There will also be newly-engineered seats for the King Air 260, using a pressure-mapping process to deliver a marked improvement from the 360 model’s original seats. The state-of-the-art seats are designed to provide passengers with a significantly more comfortable experience while boarding the aircraft, especially on longer flights. Although the cabin can only have a maximum of nine occupants, you can be certain that all the passengers will enjoy the royal comfort from the spacious interior, as there is generous head and shoulder room to go with the adjustable and finely-crafted seats.
Meanwhile, Textron Aviation also announced that it has received supplemental type certificates (STC) for the IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle on King Air 200s that are designed with Pro Line Fusion avionics. According to Textron, they are also expecting STC approvals for King Air 300-series turboprops lined up with Pro Line 21 avionics to come soon.
With the current success of the Beechcraft line, Textron Aviation wants the public to remember that their Cessna side is just as formidable. Just recently, the company’s flagship Citation Longitude marked its first anniversary for type certification. With 22 Longitudes delivered and more than 5,000 hours amassed as of the end of the third quarter, Textron is confident in saying that the aircraft remains a worthy investment for quality business flights. Additionally, the fact that the Longitude can also operate with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a big plus for the industry. “We are proud that our customers can choose to fuel with SAF when taking delivery of new Beechcraft turboprop and Cessna turboprop and jet aircraft or when departing from our Wichita service center as part of their service experience,” Scholl remarks.
Beechcraft and Cessna are both considered top-notch brands, and it’s important to make sure that these aircraft get the best service they deserve. If your aircraft has any exhaust-related needs, you can always count on Knisley Welding to come through. Knisley Welding has an extensive inventory of exhaust parts for all aircraft brands including Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper, Mooney, Bellanca, Partenavia, Bell, and Helio, and they can guarantee outstanding quality in service and craftsmanship. Contact Knisley Welding now to get the best exhaust system services for your aircraft.
(Source: Beechcraft)