Aircraft makes North American debut at EAA Airventure
OSHKOSH, Wis., 2015-7-24 — /Travel PR News/ — Beechcraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced that it has received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the latest version of its new production Beechcraft King Air 250 turboprop, allowing deliveries to commence this quarter. The upgraded King Air is equipped with the Pro Line Fusion avionics system and new cabin enhancements. The aircraft is making its North American debut this week at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
“We are pleased to put the upgraded King Air 250 in the hands of our customers so quickly after announcement two months ago,” said Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Turboprop Aircraft and Interior Design. “This aircraft brings the latest technology to the cockpit and cabin allowing pilots and passengers alike to experience the Beechcraft King Air in a whole new way. EAA Airventure is a great venue for attendees to experience firsthand the investments we are making in this proven platform.”
Certification for the Pro Line Fusion-equipped King Air 350i/ER is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of this year, followed by the King Air C90GTx in the first half of 2016.
Avionics
Pro Line Fusion for the King Air brings one of the most trusted avionics architectures to the first full touchscreen flight display system. The new avionics system changes how operators aviate, navigate and communicate through a one-of-a-kind intuitive flight deck interface. Its three 14-inch displays are interchangeable, high-resolution and cursor controlled. Other performance-enhancing capabilities include:
- Integrated touchscreen checklists
- Intuitive graphical touchscreen flight planning
- High-resolution SVS with patented airport dome graphics
- Convenient presets to reconfigure all three displays with a single touch
- Full multi-sensor flight management system
- Available automatic wireless database and chart uploads
- Open and scalable architecture for future upgrades and mandates
Cabin upgrades
In addition to the avionics, the company has made enhancements to the King Air’s cabin technologies, which offer an improved and connected passenger experience. The personal device-centric cabin includes international or domestic Wi-Fi as standard on the King Air 350i and King Air 250 aircraft and optional on the King Air C90GTx, allowing customers to stay connected on the ground and in the air. Also standard on all three models will be electronically dimmable window shades, offering a simple interface that provides clearer views and darker shading at the touch of a button.
Segment leadership
More than 7,300 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 60 million flight hours in its first 50 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military, and flying commercial missions ranging from traditional passenger and cargo transport to electronic and imagery surveillance, air ambulance, airway calibration, photographic mapping, training and weather modification.
Web page: For more information on the Beechcraft King Air product line visit http://beechcraft.txtav.com/en
Images:
King Air 250 at EAA AirVenture
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About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; and continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
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Textron Aviation: Beechcraft King Air 250 turboprop receives type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration