Beechcraft’s Special Mission King Air 350ER Demonstrator on Global Tour

The Beechcraft Corporation Special Mission King Air 350ER demonstrator aircraft at the Paris Air Show this week is in the midst of a worldwide tour to showcase the King Air’s special mission capabilities.

During the year-long tour, the aircraft is scheduled to visit more than 15 countries on six continents, and will fly an estimated 80,000 miles.

“We discovered through a similar tour last year that the best way to demonstrate the performance, versatility and low operating costs of the King Air 350ER is to take the aircraft around the world,” said Dan Keady, Beechcraft senior vice president, Special Missions. “Experiencing the aircraft first hand makes it easy for governments, military and commercial customers to see why the King Air is the ideal aircraft to address the unique challenges of most special mission operations.”

The King Air 350ER demonstrator aircraft is a standard extended-range (ER) airplane, which includes additional fuel capacity and increased capability landing gear allowing for 2,500 nautical mile range and take-off weight of 16,500 lbs.

The aircraft’s unique interior configuration highlights the versatility and utility of the King Air family of aircraft with a fully functioning medical station complete with medical oxygen, vacuum and pressure, a medical cabinet and a side-facing, three-place couch for doctor/medical attendants.

Additionally, the large cabin provides ample room for the installed airline style seating showcasing standard King Air chairs in a commuter airline mission.

A maritime patrol console has also been installed to demonstrate surveillance configurations.

The tour started in March in Mexico and has stopped at major aviation events such as the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) in China, Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany and the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Geneva.

Between appearances at shows and events, the aircraft is visiting military and special mission operators as it travels around the globe.

After Paris, the demonstrator will continue its tour for the remainder of 2013. Some of scheduled stops include: the Latin American Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (LABACE) in August in Brazil; the National Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA) in October in the U.S.; and the Dubai Airshow in November in the UAE.

More than 7,000 King Air turboprops have been delivered since 1964 and are operated in 127 countries around the world. The line of twin-engine turboprops has surpassed 60 million total flight hours.

King Airs 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.