Diesel said:
Our owners allways loved the King Air's. They just look big and mean. Top it off, Top the seats, top the baggage and go.
Diesel:
It's been a while since I've flown the 200 myself, but in the model I flew, you could not top everything and go. I too used to instruct in the airplane.
I just checked my old numbers, in the 200 I flew (with Raisbeck mods), if we topped the tanks, 2 pilots, 7 pax and no bags (everyone at 170 pounds), we would be 1,000 pounds over max gross.
8,750 - BOW
1,190 - 7 Passengers
3,645 - Topped off Fuel
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13,585 (Max takeoff weight is 12,500)
As with most airplanes, there is a balance between pax, cargo and range. In ours, to go full fuel, you could have 1 pilot and 2 pax with no bags. Full fuel gave us about 4 to 4 1/2 hour of flying with IFR reserve. We could take 1 pilot, 7 pax and 2800# of fuel. That gave us about 3 hours of flying and IFR reserve. Realistically, this plane allows you a lot of flexibility. Not too often you need to go more than 3 hours and/or take 7 pax.
Also, keep in mind that at Max Gross Weight (in a straight 200), you need 4,600' of runway to be able to meet Accel-Stop & Accel-Go distances on a S.L. Standard Day. You may not be "required" to meet these numbers legally, but I wouldn't go any other way. It is the same size and costs much as many light jets. You wouldn't takeoff in a jet without those numbers (I hope), so why would you do so in a King Air? Even with enough fuel to fly for 30 minutes with IFR reserve, 1 pax and 1 pilot, you'd need 2,800' of runway for Accel-Stop and Accel-Go.
Now, I do agree with you, the King Air 200 / B200 would be an ideal airplane for anyone looking for something in that category. I loved flying it.
JetPilot500