Textron Aviation Launches New Flagship King Airs

Textron Aviation recently announced the King Air 360/360ER, an upgrade of the Model 350/350ER that includes a redesigned cabin, autothrottles, and a digital pressurization system. The new turboprop twin models—priced at $7.9 million and $8.795 million, respectively—are in production, with customer deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter.

The cabin has been completely redesigned for better aesthetics and comfort, with new seats; more refined cabinetry, partitions, and side ledges; higher work tables; LED lighting; lower-profile air and light components; new switches; and power outlets and USB charging stations. There are also five new interior schemes: lava saddle, new pewter, latte, buttercream, and alpaca.

Meanwhile, the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense autothrottles on the King Air 360/360ER—which reduce pilot workload by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, go-around, and landing phases of flight—are being made available as a retrofit for 300-series King Airs with Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, Textron Aviation said. Likewise, the digital pressurization system on the new King Air models lowers pilot workload via automatically scheduled cabin pressurization during climb and descent. Cabin altitude has been lowered by 10 percent to 5,960 feet at FL270.

To date, nearly 7,600 Beechcraft King Airs are in service worldwide, amassing more than 62 million flight hours.