Tag: 350i

Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER Achieves FAA Type Certification

October 7, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Textron Aviation today announced it has achieved Type Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its newest flagship twin turboprop Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER aircraft, paving the way for customer deliveries to commence in the coming weeks. Announced in August 2020, the Beechcraft King Air 360 demonstrates the company’s commitment to ongoing product development, bringing the latest innovations to the legendary aircraft and providing added value for customers.

The Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

“The new era of the industry-leading Beechcraft King Air begins today,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering and Programs. “The King Air 360 is a perfect combination of customer input, innovative technology and next-generation capabilities. By incorporating superior features and engineering advancements into an aircraft that is renowned for its versatility and reliability, we have elevated the King Air to the next level. With certification now in hand, we are thrilled to soon get these aircraft into the hands of our eager customers.”

The King Air 360 ushers in the next generation of the legendary King Air turboprop family, building on its reputation of versatility and reliability. The newly upgraded aircraft offers the latest technological advancements in the cockpit, a redesigned cabin and enhancements to passenger comfort.

Cockpit upgrades

Among the key features of the King Air 360 cockpit is the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S)ThrustSense Autothrottle. The autothrottle supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo safely by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, and go-around phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and supports them in their continuous vigilance to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions.

Another important update in the cockpit is the new digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

Cabin upgrades

With standard seating for nine passengers, the latest King Air offers an even greater passenger experience than its predecessor. The aircraft features a cabin altitude of 5,960 feet at a typical cruising altitude of 27,000 feet – more than 10 percent lower when compared to the King Air 350i. The improved cabin altitude level provides greater comfort for passengers, especially during longer flights.

A redesigned cabin features a stunning new look with custom-built cabinetry, partitions and side ledges, upgraded materials and finishes, along with all new interior schemes. Other amenities that come standard on the entire King Air lineup include pull-out work tables, standard power outlets, USB charging stations and a private aft lavatory.

King Air leadership

Nearly 7,600 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 62 million flight hours in its 56 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world.

Wheels Up and Delta Close Groundbreaking Transaction Combining Delta Private Jets with Wheels Up

January 29, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

With this expanded private fleet and access to Delta’s global network, Wheels Up is strategically positioned to fulfill every travel need of its now 8,000+ members and customers.

Delta and Wheels Up, the leading brand in private aviation, have closed on a previously announced groundbreaking transaction and partnership agreement.

The closing officially combines Delta Private Jets (DPJ) with Wheels Up, pairing Wheels Up’s membership programs, innovative digital platform and world-class lifestyle experiences with Delta Private Jets’ renowned reliability, safety, service and scale. The combination creates one of the world’s largest owned and managed fleets of nearly 200 private aircraft, ranging from the King Air 350i to large-cabin jets. With this expanded private fleet and access to Delta’s global network, Wheels Up is strategically positioned to fulfill every travel need of its now 8,000+ members and customers.

In the weeks ahead, Wheels Up and Delta will be communicating directly with customers to roll out cross-platform partnership benefits and other program features that cannot be found anywhere else within the private aviation industry.

“Together, Wheels Up and Delta will democratize the industry to make private flying and the private flying lifestyle accessible to significantly more individuals and businesses around the world,” said Wheels Up Founder and CEO Kenny Dichter. “By adding Delta Private Jets and partnering with Delta, our membership platform has evolved to one that can fulfill a vast range of flight needs on a very large scale.”

As part of this transaction Delta’s Chief Operating Officer, Gil West, has joined the Wheels Up Board of Directors.

“This innovative partnership is the latest step in Delta’s efforts to transform travel into a part of the journey to look forward to,” West said. “Bringing together the Delta brand, DPJ’s renowned reliability and scale, and the exceptional experiences that are the hallmark of Wheels Up, is opening up a whole new world of travel options to more travelers than ever before.”

The Wheels Up and Delta Private Jets teams will be working together to ensure a seamless transition for all DPJ employees and customers. DPJ employees will continue to operate out of their current location in Cincinnati.

“We are thrilled to welcome the talented and passionate Delta Private Jets employees into the Wheels Up family and for Gil West to join our Board of Directors.” said Dichter.

Over the next year, Wheels Up and Delta will continue introducing exciting cross-platform benefits and features, all designed to add more value for their members and customers.

Financial terms of the transaction will not be disclosed, and there is no expected impact to Delta’s 2020 financial guidance.

Textron to Showcase Diverse Product Lineup at Paris Air Show

May 31, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

PROVIDENCE, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bell, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Systems, TRU Simulation + Training and Textron Airborne Solutions, all businesses of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), have announced their plans for the Paris Air Show—the largest aerospace event in the world—which will be held June 17-23 at the Exhibition Center of Le Bourget. Textron will be displaying in Textron Pavilion A2.

“Our exhibit demonstrates a deep and diverse lineup of commercial and military aircraft, unmanned systems and simulation and training solutions,” says Textron’s Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. “We’re excited to show Paris Air Show attendees how focused we’ve been on delivering new levels of innovation and performance.”

Bell

Since the company’s beginning in 1935, Bell has set the pace for the helicopter industry, expanding the scope of vertical lift. Bell was the first to obtain commercial certification for a helicopter nearly 60 years ago – and since then, has delivered thousands of innovative aircraft to customers around the world. When it comes to developing the world’s first air taxi or producing life-saving commercial and military aircraft, Bell has the innovative minds and the relentless drive to revolutionize search and rescue operations, business travel and vertical takeoff and lift. And we are just getting started.

Discover these next-generation aircraft on static display during Paris Air Show this year:

The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light single engine helicopter is the ideal military trainer aircraft and offers incredible value unlike any other helicopter in its class. With more than 150 delivered around the world, it is designed to be easier and safer to fly thanks to its superior standard equipment and state-of-the-art Garmin 1000H TM glass cockpit.

With over 330,000 hours on the global fleet, the Bell 429 is designed with the future in mind, enhancing occupant safety, with the adaptability to remain at the forefront as mission requirements evolve. The Bell 429 has been chosen by police forces, air medical teams and militaries around the world for time-sensitive missions.

The Bell 525 Relentless full-scale mock-up outfitted with Mecaer Aviation’s luxurious MAGnificent interior will be on static display this year. The aircraft offers customers a general leap forward, bringing new technological advances designed to benefit operators and increase safety standards of the industry. The 525 is expected to be the first commercial aircraft certified with Fly-By-Wire technology which greatly increases safety through reduced pilot workload and enhanced situational awareness.

Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation and Textron Aviation Defense—a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc.—will be showcasing their defense and special mission capabilities at the Paris Air Show, featuring static displays of the highly advanced Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine, a flight inspection-configured Cessna Citation Latitude, an ISR-configured Beechcraft King Air 350i and a Cessna Grand Caravan EX equipped with an array of radars and sensors.

The Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine is the world’s most cost-effective turboprop approach to light attack and armed reconnaissance, equipping the warfighter with the greatest level of mission configurability, the most advanced ISR technology, an optimized battlespace networking capability and the unwavering mission support of a global service network. The AT-6 Wolverine meets the full spectrum of U.S. Air Force Light Attack Aircraft (LAA) Integrated Weapon System (IWS) requirements.

Textron Aviation has engineered and designed innovative interior and avionics options that optimize the Latitude for installations of Flight Inspection systems and has enabled a more cost-effective and rapid installation for its customers. The Latitude’s flight inspection systems have been outfitted with the latest technology in en-route and terminal navigation aids while the aircraft features an extended range of border-to-border flight calibration, the payload capacity for extensive onboard test equipment and a dual flight inspection and executive transportation configuration.

The Beechcraft King Air 350i surpasses its predecessor’s high-caliber performance with more payload capability and range and delivers a quieter interior with standard Wi-Fi and Pro Line Fusion™ avionics with full touch-screen simplicity. The King Air is the world’s most popular business turboprop aircraft—a title sustained over five decades of continuous enhancement.

The freedom to configure the Cessna Grand Caravan EX to meet changing demands empowers operators to meet diverse surveillance mission requirements. External mounting provisions enable use of advanced electro optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems that transmit imaging to cabin mission computers and available cockpit repeaters. Intelligence is shared in real time via tactical radio and satellite downlink.

Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER Achieves FAA Type Certification

Wheels Up and Delta Close Groundbreaking Transaction Combining Delta Private Jets with Wheels Up

Textron to Showcase Diverse Product Lineup at Paris Air Show

Archives