7,000 Beechcraft King Airs

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) may be having problems with the executive jet division (see BTN 22 October) but its legendary line of twin-engine turboprops continues apace with the delivery of the 7,000th Beechcraft King Air since production began in 1964.

The milestone aircraft is a Beechcraft King Air 350i delivered to Herman & Kittle Properties Inc, based in Indianapolis.

“The King Air is still king. We delivered the 5,000th King Air in 1996, the 6,000th in 2005 and now we’ve reached 7,000 – clearly, interest in the all-time best-selling business aircraft family is as strong as ever”, said Shawn Vick, HBC Executive Vice President, Customers.  “Thanks to constant innovation, its durability and utility are unmatched by any other airplane in the world.  Through relentless product enhancements, the King Air’s performance and value have continuously increased and set the standards in our industry”.

Today’s fleet of 7,000 aircraft has amassed in excess of 45 million flight hours.  The King Air is currently operated in 127 countries around the world, including all branches of the US military.  King Air turboprops serve a variety of missions ranging from traditional transport of personnel and high-value cargo, to electronic and imagery surveillance, air ambulance, airway calibration, photographic mapping, training and weather modification. www.hawkerbeechcraft.com

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