Beechcraft Super King Air The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin - turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation ( now the Beechcraft Division of Hawker Beechcraft ) . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into four families : the Model 90 series , Model 100 series ( these models comprising the King Air family ) , Model 200 series and Model 300 series . The latter two models were originally marketed as the " Super King Air " family , but the " Super " was dropped in 1996 . The Super King Air family has been in continuous production since 1974 , the longest production run of any civilian turboprop aircraft in its class . It has outlasted all of its previous competitors and as of 2009 the only other aircraft in its class is the Piaggio Avanti . As of December 2009 , the B200 , B200GT and the larger B300 are the production models . Special mission derivative versions of these models are also available for order . The Beechcraft 1900 regional airliner was derived from the Model B200 King Air . Development . Super King Air 200 . The Model 200 was originally conceived as the Model 101 in 1969 , and was a development of the Model 100 King Air . The Model 200 had essentially the same fuselage as the Model 100 , with changes to the rear fuselage to accommodate a new T - tail ( in place of the 100 ' s conventional tail with all - moving trimmable horizontal stabilizer ) and structural changes to allow higher maximum pressurization . Apart from the T - tail , other changes included Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 A - 41 engines rated at instead of the engines of the Model A100 then in production , and a wing of increased span and extra fuel capacity . Overall , the 200 was 3 ft 10 in ( 1 . 17 m ) longer than the A100 , with wingspan 4 ft 3 in ( 1 . 29 m ) greater , containing more fuel . Maximum Take - Off Weight ( MTOW ) was increased by 1 , 000 lb ( 450 kg ) . After protracted development including extensive wind tunnel testing of the design ( especially of the T - tail which was tunnel - tested for 375 hours ) , the first prototype flew for the first time on October 27 , 1972 ; a second prototype took to the air on December 15 the same year . Three production aircraft were also built in 1972 and delivered to the U . S . Army ; these three were designated Model A100 - 1s by Beechcraft and were given the military designation RU - 21J ; the first of some 400 T - tail King Airs to be ordered by the U . S . armed forces . The 200 received civil certification in December 1973 and the first civil delivery took place in February 1974 . In 1976 , Beechcraft developed the Model 200T , a version configured for aerial survey ing or reconnaissance . The prototype was created by modifying a Model 200 aircraft , constructor ' s number ( c / no . ) BB - 186 ; the modifications included changes to the belly aft of the wing to allow photography with a vertical camera , provision for a surveillance radar in a pod under the fuselage , dome - shaped windows on the sides of the rear fuselage to allow observation directly below the aircraft by occupants , and a usable capacity fuel tank on each wingtip to increase the aircraft ' s range . Customers could specify any combination of these modifications when ordering a 200T ; all 200Ts were Model 200s modified at the factory and given new constructor ' s numbers . The next model to appear was the Model 200C in 1979 ; this version had a large cargo door on the LH side of the rear fuselage with an airstair door similar to the Model 200 ' s door built into it . The door opening was 4 ft 4 in ( 1 . 33 m ) high and 4 ft 4 in ( 1 . 33 m ) wide , allowing a large range of items to be loaded into the cabin . The Model 200C found favour with many operators who fitted them out internally as Air Ambulance s . The 200C was built from scratch rather than as a modification of the Model 200 . The Model A200C military version was developed concurrently . In 1981 , a Model 200C ( c / no . BL - 24 ) was modified as the Model 200CT , fitted with the same wingtip fuel tanks as installed on Model 200Ts ; there was only one 200CT , but it led to other aircraft after an updated version of the Model 200 entered production . This updated and improved version was the Model B200 , which entered production in 1981 . It was fitted with PT6A - 42 engines , still rated at , but with improvements that resulted in greater aircraft performance . Other changes included increased maximum pressurization ( to 6 . 5 psi differential ) and changes to the cockpit layout . The Model 200C gave way to the Model B200C the same year , with the first Model B200T and Model B200CT being modified from a B200 and B200C respectively , the following year . Commencing in 1984 the B200 , B200C and their derivatives were fitted with a revised landing gear retraction mechanism , actuated by hydraulic rams powered by an electric pump installed in the LH wing . This replaced the earlier electro - mechanical retraction system of gearboxes , driveshafts and chains and sprocket s that was a throwback to the Twin Bonanza . At the same time the propellers fitted were changed from 3 - bladed Hartzell s to 3 - bladed McCauleys . 47 B200Cs built that year were delivered to the U . S . military , with dozens more of a similar standard ordered in subsequent years , but not given official civil model designations . A total of 14 B200s were produced in 1989 and 1990 in a 13 - seat high density configuration with a belly cargo pod ; these were marketed by Beechcraft as a commuter airliner under the designation Model 1300 . Customers for this version included Mesa Airlines . The propeller installation changed again in 1992 , when Beechcraft started offering the option of having 4 - bladed Hartzell or McCauley propellers , or 3 - bladed Hartzell propellers ; the 3 - bladed McCauley propellers were no longer available . From October 1995 Beechcraft offered an updated B200 with Electronic Flight Instrument System ( EFIS ) avionics , this was marketed as the " B200SE Super King Air " ( for Special Edition ) . The following year the " Super " name was dropped from all marketing and advertising . In October 2003 , Beechcraft announced another avionics upgrade for the B200 , the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 suite . The B200 remains in production , with a total of 13 built in 2009 . The B200C is available for order ; in January 2009 two B200Cs were delivered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia ( RFDS ) . The two B200Cs were the first examples delivered in about three years ( the most recent B200Cs prior to this were two delivered in early 2006 for use as air ambulances in Scotland ) . On May 21 , 2007 , during the 7th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva , Hawker Beechcraft ( as the company was now known ) introduced the Model B200GT updated version of the B200 . The B200GT is fitted with a new model of PT6 engine developed specifically for it by Pratt & Whitney Canada ; while still rated at the new PT6A - 52 develops maximum power to an even higher altitude than the −42 it replaces , thus further improving aircraft performance . The B200GT and B200CGT with large cargo door were certified by the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) on November 16 , 2007 and by the end of 2009 , 97 B200GTs had been delivered . Hawker Beechcraft has elected to use new constructor ' s number prefixes for the B200GT and B200CGT ; B200GTs are being built with the prefix " BY " and while no B200CGTs had been built as of December 2009 , they will be delivered with the prefix " BZ " . Model 200 military variants . The United States Army , Air Force , Navy and Marine Corps have all flown versions of the Super King Air 200 . As noted above some have been " off - the - shelf " civil versions , but the majority have been purpose - built for the military and were treated by Beechcraft and the FAA as a separate series , the A200 series . A significant minority of military versions are known purely by their military designations , with no FAA model designations being assigned to them , although they do have basically - equivalent civilian model counterparts . The military designation varies from service to service , but most are called C - 12 Huron or UC - 12 . These are used for personnel transport . The Army also operates the RC - 12 Guardrail series of aircraft for military intelligence missions . The Canadian Forces ( CF ) took delivery of two second - hand early - production Model 200 Super King Airs leased from Awood Air in 1990 . These were given the designation CT - 145 under the CF ' s identification system and were used as multi - engine trainers , replacing Douglas C - 47 s . One was subsequently returned to the lessor and a third Model 200 placed into service in order that the two aircraft used would have the same cockpit layout . The two aircraft were replaced by eight civilian - operated 90 Model King Airs in 1995 . The King Air B200 entered service with the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) in 2004 as a multi - engine trainer , replacing the Jetstream T1 . PD 290 . The King Air 200 design proved to be sound , so Beechcraft considered a jet - powered version in the mid - 1970s . The first prototype King Air 200 was re - engined with Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofans in overwing nacelles . Given the designation PD 290 ( for Preliminary Design ) , the aircraft was flown in this configuration for the first time on March 12 , 1975 . Beech did not pursue production , and the last flight was made on September 30 , 1977 . Beechcraft subsequently purchased the production rights and Type Certificate for the Mitsubishi MU - 300 Diamond design in 1985 , producing it as the Beechjet 400 . Super King Air 300 / 350 . The 200 series proved so popular that Beechcraft began work on a successor , with the Beechcraft designation Model 300 and marketed as the " Super King Air 300 " . The B200 ' s airframe was " cleaned up " and even more powerful engines ( PT6A - 60A , rated at 1050 shp ) installed in redesigned cowlings ( known as " pitot cowlings " due to the reshaped engine air intakes ) , with MTOW increased to 14 , 000 lb ( 6 , 300 kg ) . A Model 200 ( c / no . BB - 343 ) was modified to develop the updated systems to be used on the new model and flew in this configuration on October 6 , 1981 . The first flight of the prototype Model 300 took place on September 3 , 1983 and deliveries commenced the following year . Because not all nations would then allow an aircraft of this type to be certified at an MTOW greater than 12 , 500 lb ( 5 , 700 kg ) , the Model 300LW was also developed at the same time , limited to the lower MTOW . Nineteen examples of a special version of the Model 300 were delivered to the FAA in 1987 and 1988 . The first two were conversions of standard Model 300s , while the remaining 17 were purpose - built ; since they were delivered the FAA has used the fleet to check the extensive network of navaid s in the United States . 200 and 300 Series King Airs have been used for similar duties in several other countries , including Australia , Germany , Hong Kong ( a B200C used for navaid calibration was the first aircraft to land at the then - new Chek Lap Kok Airport in 1996 ) , Norway , Sweden and Taiwan . By 1988 , Beechcraft had begun work on the replacement for the 300 . The fuselage of the 300 was stretched by nearly three feet with two extra cabin windows on each side and winglet s added to the wingtips to create the Model B300 , introduced in 1990 and initially marketed as the Super King Air 350 . MTOW was increased again to 15 , 000 lb ( 6 , 750 kg ) ; as the same regulatory situation that led to the development of the 300LW still existed , that model continued to be produced until 1994 . Like the 200 and B200 before it , a version with a large cargo door was developed , the Model B300C marketed as the " Super King Air 350C " . The first deliveries of this model also took place in 1990 . In 1998 , the UltraQuiet active noise canceling system , made by Elliott Aviation , was added as standard equipment on all B300s . In October 2003 , Beechcraft announced that it would deliver future B300 and B300C King Airs with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite . The B300 model is still in production today ( now marketed simply as the " King Air 350 " , the " Super " being dropped in 1996 as mentioned earlier ) , while the B300C is available for order ; four were built in 2007 and Hawker Beechcraft announced on November 11 , 2007 that it would deliver five to Saudi Arabia in 2008 for use as air ambulances . On June 13 , 2005 , Beechcraft announced at the Paris Air Show that it was developing the King Air 350ER version of the B300 , an equivalent to the earlier Model 200T and B200Ts of the 200 series . Changes include an increase of MTOW to 16 , 500 lb ( 7 , 430 kg ) , provision for surveillance equipment in a belly pod , the landing gear of the Beechcraft 1900 to handle the increased weight and provide ground clearance for the belly pod , and extra fuel capacity in the engine nacelles to increase range ( because of the B300s winglets , it was unfeasible to fit wingtip fuel tanks as found on the 200T and B200T ) . On November 11 , 2007 , Hawker Beechcraft announced that the 350ER had been certified by the FAA . In October 2008 , Beechcraft announced updated versions of the B300 series , the King Air 350i , with improvements to the passenger cabin . The manufacturer claims that the noise level and overall comfort of the King Air 350i , 350iER , 350iC and 350iCER are now competitive with those of light jets . The cabin of the B300 series has been updated with controllers in the passenger seat armrests that dim the LED lights , darken the windows and control an iPod dock and a high - definition video monitor . The cabin also includes Universal Serial Bus ( USB ) ports , AC electrical receptacles and fold - out tables for each passenger in the eight seats fitted . Deliveries commenced in December 2009 . Model 300 military variants . One special Super King Air B300C variant was built for the Swiss Air Force , with a modified belly to allow aerial photography and a large observation window in the right side aft fuselage ; and given a c / no . with a different prefix to other B300Cs . Hawker Pacific in Australia purchased eight B300s between 2003 and 2005 for lease to the Royal Australian Air Force . These were subsequently modified as navigator trainers . Hawker Pacific later leased another three B300s to the Australian Army , replacing B200 and B200C Model King Airs . The RAAF has also utilized King Airs as an interim replacement for the DHC - 4 Caribou transports of No . 38 Squadron . The Japan Ground Self - Defense Force operates six B300s in the reconnaissance and communications roles under the designation LR - 2 . The aircraft were delivered between 1998 and 2004 and include the last B300 built without the Pro Line 21 avionics package ( c / no . FL - 382 ) . Beechcraft announced on March 6 , 2007 that the Iraqi Air Force had ordered five King Air 350ERs for delivery commencing late in 2007 . Hawker Beechcraft exhibited a King Air 350ER at the 2007 Paris Air Show ; and at the Royal International Air Tattoo the following month . Photos of the aircraft , actually a modified 2005 - built B300 , show that visual features of the King Air 350ER include a belly pod , and enlarged engine nacelles compared to the nacelles of standard B300 King Airs . Four King Air 350ERs equipped for ISTAR missions over Afghanistan originally were ordered for the RAF . This was increased to six in July 2013 . This variant is called the Shadow R1 in RAF service . Four more King Air 350s replaced the Royal Navy ' s Jetstream T2 observer trainers in 2011 and in this role are known as Avenger T1 . The Royal Bahamas Defence Force operates a single B300 on maritime patrol and reconnaissance duties . The United States Army has contracted for a number of King Air 300s to be acquired on the second - hand market and modified as ISTAR aircraft for use by Task Force ODIN in operational theaters . As of late 2010 , 11 such aircraft are registered to the U . S . Army . Two Canadian - registered and owned King Air 300s , configured in the same manner have also been contracted for . Modification and upgrade programs . Numerous " after - market " modifications and upgrades are available for 200 and 300 Series King Airs . One company offers a Wing Front Spar Reinforcement Kit for 200 Series aircraft and a modification to replace the electro - mechanical landing gear retraction system of early - build aircraft with an electro - hydraulic system . Another company offers a High Performance Leading Edge , Nacelle Wing Lockers , Ram Air Recovery System , Quiet Turbofan Propellers , High Flotation Gear Doors and Dual Aft Body Strakes . Another company offers a modification for the entire King Air line that entails reworking and extending the entire nose to house a baggage compartment as well as the avionics normally found in the noses of King Air aircraft ; while another offers winglets , similar to those of the B300 , for 200 series and other 300 series King Airs . A modification to install a Forward looking infrared camera in an extended nose in B200 King Airs is available . Other modifications available are to convert standard 200 Series King Airs to configurations equivalent to the Model 1300 or Model 200C and B200C King Airs ; and to modify B300s ( typically delivered with an eight - seat corporate interior ) to allow more passengers and baggage to be carried . Operational history . Super King Airs of the Argentine Navy saw active service during the Falklands War of 1982 , used on night - time transport missions between Argentina and the islands . A B300 was used as the presidential transport aircraft of Paraguay between 1991 and 1994 . On June 24 , 1996 , the 5 , 000th King Air , a Model B300 , was delivered . Less than nine years later , on January 24 , 2005 , the 6 , 000th Beechcraft King Air , B200 c / no . BB - 1884 , was delivered . Beechcraft also delivered a special 40th Anniversary King Air ( which was the 400th B300 as well ) in 2005 ; the aircraft featured ruby - coloured exterior paint and real rubies in a special logo in the cabin . The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia ( RFDS ) is a long - term major operator of B200 and B200C King Airs ( and previously Queen Airs and 90 series King Airs ) as Air Ambulances . In all about 40 200 series King Airs have served with the RFDS . One was destroyed in a fatal crash near Mount Gambier , South Australia on December 10 , 2001 while others have been retired and replaced by newer King Airs . As of January 2009 , the RFDS operates 34 200 series King Airs throughout Australia . A large number of military King Airs have been retired and of these , many have entered civil service with Law Enforcement and other government organizations in the United States such as State Police and Sheriff Departments ; others are now being used by the Missionary Aviation Fellowship and subsidiary organisations . Beechcraft intended that the Super King Air would be replaced by the Starship , a very advanced aircraft that proved to be a commercial failure due to its inferior performance compared to promises , and high purchase price . While most of the Starship fleet has been scrapped , the King Air continues to sell in healthy numbers . Variants . In roughly chronological order , the 200 and 300 Series King Air variants and production numbers are : Operators . More than 6 , 600 aircraft of the King Air line have been delivered and are operated by corporate , commercial , military and special mission operations in more than 94 countries . Almost 53 % of the aircraft delivered have been from the 200 / 300 series family . Civil operators . The King Air is used by many corporate and private users , it is also popular as a light transport liaison aircraft with both government and non - government organizations . It is also used by air - taxi and air charter companies .