The entire product range of Beechcraft and Cessna products were available in special mission configurations at the Farnborough International Airshow held recently. All 20 current production aircraft – including a Special Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER were on display – fit numerous mission profiles, including aerial survey, air ambulance, flight inspection, aerial surveillance, training and utility transport.

“With the combination of the Beechcraft and Cessna products within Textron Aviation, we now offer the largest proposition of special mission platforms in the industry,” said Dan Keady, Vice President, Special Missions. “We have seen a significant growth in special mission activity around the globe and anticipate this market will continue to grow across our aircraft platforms. From our piston-engine Beechcraft and Cessna products up to the largest Citation business jets, we are able to offer our customers an aircraft to fit just about any mission requirement.”

The Beechcraft products, particularly the King Air turboprops, are utilized around the globe in a number of services including air ambulance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime patrol and pilot training, while the Cessna product line lends itself to multiple special mission roles from piston trainers, to the multi-purposed Caravan operating in an air ambulance, cargo, parachute and float plane platforms.

“There have been a number of factors fuelling the special mission business,” Keady said. “Two key factors include advances in onboard technology, which means aircraft such as our turboprops can be used for missions previously requiring larger, more expensive military aircraft. In addition, more organisations are looking to use their business aircraft for multiple roles, which could include using a King Air for executive or utility transport while having the ability to quickly adapt it to an air ambulance configuration, for example.”

Range of Solutions for Defence Market

Beechcraft announced that it had delivered the first of four Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft to the Mexican Navy Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR), besides providing support with on-the-ground service, support and training through its Global Mission Support organisation. Textron Aviation displayed a specially modified Beechcraft King Air 350ER which is fitted with a unique and flexible mission package that supports search and rescue, fishery inspection, pollution monitoring and seaway/shipping lane surveillance missions. The King Air 350ER was selected for these missions due to its high dash speeds, long endurance, high reliability and low operating cost. Beechcraft Defense displayed its T-6C trainer and AT-6 light attack aircraft.

T-6 Contract with US Government

It said that it had signed a contract in May with the US Air Force for production of 29 Beechcraft T-6 training aircraft. Valued at $171 million, this represents the 20th production lot of T-6 aircraft ordered by the US Air Force (USAF), US Navy (USN) and US Army as part of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) procurement programme.

Beechcraft also launched a new demonstrator dedicated to showcasing the ISR capabilities of its Baron G58 piston-engine aircraft. The Baron G58 ISR package includes a FLIR 230-HD electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera system, an operator’s console that houses the mapping/mission management computer, a recorder and a multi-band communications radio system and data link for special mission operators. The 230-HD EO/IR camera has the ability to virtually see both day and night, over land and water, in both good and poor weather. The mission mapping system provides the camera operator with a visual representation of the target location. The multi-band communications radio gives the flight crew and the sensor operator the ability to communicate directly with the military, police vehicles, coast guard and other maritime vessels and the recorder provides court admissible evidence for prosecution.