Textron Aviation announced it is launching an “exciting new era for its renowned Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft” with the introduction of the Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop. The announcement came about during a virtual conference on Day 1 of the VBACE 2020.

Featuring the latest technological advancements to the cockpit and improvements in the cabin, the assembly production for the King Air 260 is already underway, and certification and deliveries are expected in early 2021. The Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation. The King Air 360 achieved FAA type certification in October, and customer deliveries are underway.

Textron highlighted that the King Air 260 combines the platform’s rich history of rugged reliability and versatility with state-of-the-art upgrades and next-generation capability, offering a greater ease of flying. Key enhancements to the aircraft are the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSenseAutothrottle, along with a new digital pressurization controller. The cockpit also offers the Collins Aerospace Multi-Scan weather radar system as a standard feature on every King Air 260.

Textron highlighted that the King Air 260 combines the platform’s rich history of rugged reliability and versatility with state-of-the-art upgrades and next-generation capability, offering a greater ease of flying.

Textron Aviation also announced supplemental type certification (STC) approval of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSenseAutothrottle on Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft.

The company highlighted that these STCs are in addition to the approvals of the autothrottle on the Beechcraft King Air 200 series equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics, the Beechcraft King Air 300 series equipped with Pro Line Fusion avionics and new production Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprops, announced in August 2020.

“These investments reflect our commitment to providing superior upgrades and engineering innovation that create the best flying experience for Beechcraft King Air 260 owners and operators around the world,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO.

With an occupancy of up to nine, a maximum range of 1,720 nautical miles and a top cruise speed of 310 ktas, the Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft has long been the aircraft of choice for customers around the world.

The IS&S ThrustSenseAutothrottle ensures to deliver precision control to optimize power output. The enhancement reduces pilot workload by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise and descent phases of flight. Textron also highlighted that the ThrustSenseAutothrottle is robust but lightweight and can be installed with minimal downtime and no structural modifications to the existing throttle quadrant. Implementation is seamless and pilot control is intuitive.

The IS&S ThrustSenseAutothrottle is also available as an aftermarket upgrade through Textron Aviation Service facilities on all Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft.

“We know King Air pilots are already exceptional in their commitment to maintaining the utmost of vigilance and we are delighted to offer the IS&S Autothrottle to select Pro-Line and Fusion-equipped King Air 200 and 300-series customers.This enhancement further supports these pilots in their continuous observance to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, Customer Support, Textron Aviation.

“These investments reflect our commitment to providing superior upgrades and engineering innovation that create the best flying experience for Beechcraft King Air 260 owners and operators around the world,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO.

The new digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort is an additional update in the cockpit.

The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck. The Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar provides pilots with a fully automatic system that it optimized to detect short, mid and long-range weather. The system is designed to present an accurate picture of the weather around the aircraft, further reducing pilot workload.

“The Beechcraft King Air lineup is the most popular business turboprop in the world. It’s essential for us to continue exploring ways to bring innovation to such a renowned aircraft, and these enhancements will allow owners and operators to accomplish their various missions with greater comfort, technology and ease,”said Rob Scholl, senior vice president, Sales and Flight Operations for Textron Aviation.

The cabin has been created through an innovative pressure-mapping process that identifies ways to provide a more comfortable, relaxing journey for passengers, especially on longer flights and also meanwhile, features newly designed seats.