Hawker Beechcraft Updates King Air Stable

Hawker Beechcraft hopes to continue to stave off competition from VLJs with two new upgrades to the stalwart King Air turboprop line, announced this week at EBACE. The upgraded King Air B200, which the company is calling the B200GT, gets more powerful PT6A-52 engines, while the C90GTi will be equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics as standard. The B200GT’s new engines will hold 850 shp to a higher altitude (25,000 feet), giving the aircraft stronger climb and cruise performance (up to 20 knots faster). FAA certification of the B200GT is reportedly on track for the third quarter, with deliveries to follow soon after. The C90GTi’s Pro Line 21 package will include three 8- by 10-inch LCD flight displays and integrated flight information system, which delivers charts, graphical weather and enhanced map overlays. The C90GTi is slated to get its papers in the fourth quarter.