When Piper Aircraft announced its plans to build a big-cabin turboprop in late 1977, time was of the essence – only, we didn’t know it. It took another three years to get the airplane certificated, during which time the robust state of the general aviation manufacturing economy had begun to unravel. The Cheyenne III’s main competition, the Beech Super King Air 200, introduced in 1974, had an established head start, and industry sales volume was no longer the rising road to riches during the 1980s that it had been in the 1970s.
In December 2017, The Aerotech Group, based in Kent Town, SA Australia, took possession of its new 710P Thrush. The purchase was made through Campbell Briggs of Statewide Aviation, Australia’s Thrush dealer, based in Moree NSW. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6A-67AG engine. This may have seemed an unusual purchase to many, as The Aerotech Group has been buying Air Tractors since the early 1980s and has been a big supporter of the brand. And it still is, currently having 12 Air Tractors in its fleet.
Textron Aviation introduced the next generation of its King Air turboprop family with the Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER. The updated flagship turboprop is currently in production with customer deliveries expected to begin in the Fall of 2020.
The Beechcraft Model 99 is a civilian aircraft produced by the Beechcraft. It is also known as the Beech 99 Airliner and the Commuter 99. The 99 is a twin-engine, unpressurized, 15 to 17 passenger seat turboprop aircraft, derived from the earlier Beechcraft King Air and Queen Air. It uses the wings of the Queen Air, the engines and nacelles of the King Air, and sub-systems from both, with a specifically-designed nose structure.Design and development
Designed in the 1960s as a replacement for the Beechcraft Model 18, it first flew in July 1966. It received type certification on May 2, 1968, and 62 aircraft were delivered by the end of the year.
In 1984, the Beechcraft 1900, a pressurized 19-passenger airplane, was introduced as the follow-on aircraft.
Production ended in early 1987. Nearly half the Beech 99s in airline service are now operated as freighters by Ameriflight.
Variants
99 Airliner: Twin-engined Commuter and cargo transport aircraft, 10,400 lb max takeoff weight, accommodation for a crew of two and up to 15 passengers. powered by two 550-hp (410-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turboprop engines.
99 Executive: Executive transport version of the 99 Airliner.
99A Airliner: Same as the 99 Airliner, but powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 engines flat-rated at 550 hp.
A99A Airliner: One of a kind, 99A Airliner without wing center section tanks; this aircraft has been scrapped.
B99 Airliner: Improved version, 10,900 lb max takeoff weight, powered by two 680-hp (507-kW) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27/28 engines.
B99 Executive: Executive transport version of the B99 Airliner.
C99 Commuter: Improved version, 11,300 lb (5,100 kg) max takeoff weight, Pratt & Whitney PT6A-36 (engines flat rated at 715 hp)
With the AT-402B, Air Tractor’s goal was to combine turbine power with affordability. You get both and more. It’s quiet, powerful, and fun to fly, even at the end of a long day.
The Turbine Advantage
The AT-402B is Air Tractor’s entry-level turbine ag plane, ideal for first-time turbine owners. With its legendary PT6A-15AG turbine engine, the 402B offers the power and superb handling characteristics that make it a joy to fly and the productivity that makes profits. Quick turn times, superior visibility, faster ferry speeds, ultra-quiet engine, shorter loaded take-off distances, faster climb and cruise speeds, wider spray patterns, decreased fuel and maintenance costs — get it all with the 402B. It all adds up to a healthier bottom line for your business.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Epic Aircraft E1000 has been selected to receive Flying Magazine’s prestigious 2020 Flying Innovation Award, which recognizes the most innovative product to have reached the general aviation market in the previous year.
According to Flying, the new turboprop combines power with passion to earn Flying’s highest honor, among a strong field of 2020 Editors’ Choice Award winners.
“The team at Epic can be honestly and deeply proud of the accomplishment they’ve made with the E1000. Certified in November 2019 and delivered to its first customers this past spring, the E1000 is a true beauty. And it’s truly deserving of Flying’s 2020 Innovation Award,” said Julie Boatman, Editor-in-Chief of Flying.
“We are honored to receive the 2020 Flying Innovation Award,” said Epic CEO Doug King. “This is true validation of the incredible effort of our entire team to bring this phenomenal aircraft to market. It recognizes our unwavering commitment to a pilot-driven design process where performance, function and form are all priorities. This balance of design with engineering has allowed us to elevate industry standards and offer our customers tremendous safety, ease of operation and fun.”
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Epic said it “continues to complete customer deliveries, with strong support from its employees, suppliers and the FAA, and expects to further accelerate production schedules in coming months.”
Powered by the Pratt & Whitney 1200-horsepower PT6A-67A engine, the all carbon fiber single-engine turboprop, the E1000 flies at max cruise speeds of 333 knots, climbs at 4,000 feet per minute, operates up to 34,000 feet, and offers a full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. Normally, presentation of the Flying Innovation Award would take place at EAA AirVenture, but instead it will be presented to the entire Epic Aircraft team at an event this fall.
ABOUT EPIC AIRCRAFT: Epic Aircraft, LLC specializes in the design and manufacture of high performance, all composite, six-seat single-engine, turboprop aircraft. Epic is a privately held, design-driven aviation company that conducts all of its engineering, manufacturing and administrative operations at its Bend, Oregon headquarters. For more information about Epic Aircraft, please visit www.epicaircraft.com.
Engines powering aircraft that operate near the sea face corrosion by salt—but not if you follow some simple maintenance practices. Here’s what PT6A operators need to know.
Today, Blackhawk Aerospace announced the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval of their new XR Upgrade Kit for the King Air 350 Series.
The S2R Series is a fixed undercarriage low-wing single-engine tailwheel configuration agricultural aircraft of all-metal construction with the welded steel-tube fuselage. The hopper is located forward of the cockpit, and the aircraft is available in single or dual (tandem) cockpit configurations. The S-2R model was developed by Rockwell from the S-2D by widening the fuselage from 38” to 46” to accept a larger 400 US gallon hopper, to be able to carry a greater volume of low-density materials used by Rice growers, and adding flaps.
