King Air gurus

[wingnutt]

ive got a question...more often than not, the c90's i see on the ramp have "B" painted under the pilot windows, but a look at the data plate shows they are actually c90A's...what gives? ive been told the only difference is 4 bladed props and glass vs. 3 blades and guages.

 

[Rogue5]

Beechcraft...

 

[wingnutt]

lol...this quote appears to agree with you, "Searching for the roots of the King Air family is an interesting exercise"


http://www.avbuyer.com/Editorial/raytheon_KingAir_May04.pdf

 

[Citationkid]

Cessna did the same thing with the 172SP, which is really just a 172S. I guess it just sells more planes

 

[efiscompmon]

hey citation kid--nice avatar. Do you log DJ time in the right seat of that meridian?

 

[prpjt]

A vs. B

You are right about the data plate. The 90B's Type Certification is actually C90A. The B is a Raytheon marketing thing to note that there were major changes.

The most significant change was the interior upgrade and the addition of four blade props, and electronic vibration isolators that dramatically reduce noise and vibration in the cabin. A much smoother running rig.

The 90B has a triple fed electrical system (not sure if the 1989 and earlier planes had this) I'd like to know.

The 90B is about 15 - 20 knots faster than an unmodified 'A'

Prior to 1987 the C90A had a MGTOW of 9600. The '87 -'89 C90A, and C90B's have a 10,100 max.

 

[wingnutt]

You are right about the data plate. The 90B's Type Certification is actually C90A. The B is a Raytheon marketing thing to note that there were major changes.

ah...well that about covers it then, doesnt it

ive yet to fly a 90B that isnt triple fed, but then again i thought the 90B actually came out in '91?

and didnt the speed increase come into play with the '83 model year when they went from being a straight 90 to a C90A? im unaware of how a B is faster than an A, unless of course you are referring to the straight 90 as the A90, but the straight 90 was the replacement for the A90 in '71...lol, hows that old proverb about being clear as mud

 

[wingnutt]

trivia question for the aficionados...what was the only production model King Air to use an engine other than the P&W PT6A, and what engine was it?

 

[Kingairrick]

B100, Garretts. Loud MotherFu#!er. Next.

 

[xdashdriver]

B100 had Garrett TPE331-6-252B engines.