CenTex Aerospace has received FAA approval for its Halo 350 increased gross weight modification for Beechcraft King Air 350s and 360s. The upgrade ups mtow from 15,000 to 15,950 pounds and raises payload by 946 pounds. To accommodate these higher weights, high-strength bolts replace the original main landing gear hinge bolts.
Two additional safety systems are installed under the upgrade: a takeoff warning system and stall warning “ice mode.” The former alerts the pilot when the pitch trim is not properly set and a takeoff is initiated. Meanwhile, ice mode improves the accuracy of a stall warning when ice is present on the wings.
The Halo 350 kit, which is available immediately, comes with all necessary parts, an airplane flight manual supplement containing performance data, instructions for continued airworthiness, installation instructions, and drawings. According to Waco, Texas-based CenTex, the Halo 350 upgrade requires about 20 hours of installation time and increases empty weight by four pounds.
“The conversion represents a tremendous value for operators who find they are restricted by the 15,000-pound [mtow] limit and wish to carry additional payload or fuel,” said CenTex Aerospace president Gregory Barnes. “On top of that, the airplane will be safer to operate thanks to the new safety systems.”