Hot section: Composite Winglets Upgrade REady for king air 90X

Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) is now offering winglets for the King Air C90. Installation is available through HBS’s network of factory-owned service centers. According to the company, the King Air 90x upgrade allows a max takeoff weight increase and enhances King Air 90 handling/range/payload capability.

“The King Air 90x package provides added value and versatility to an aircraft that already has a well deserved reputation as a workhorse,” said Christi Tannahill, Hawker Beechcraft’s vice president for global customer support. “By combining the upgrades and accomplishing the modifications during a single service event, operators can effectively multiply the return on their investment several times over. Additionally, the performance enhancements gained through the installation of the winglets will, over time, provide enough fuel savings to offset much of the cost of the modification.”

The winglets, developed for Hawker Beechcraft by BLR, increase wing aspect ratio to reduce induced drag and allow the King Air to fly faster on less fuel. By increasing wing surface area, the winglets improve low-speed handling and provide greater stability at high altitudes.

Dave Marone, v-p of sales and marketing for Everett, Wash.-based BLR Aerospace, told AIN the company is currently in the process of amending the C90 winglet STC to include the E90. Certification is anticipated by year-end.