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The Model B90 King Air superseded the Model
A90 in 1968 and differed from its predecessor in a number of ways. It
had an increased wingspan, the same as the Queen Air A80, and a
remodeled rear fuselage. It also featured improvements to the
pressurization system, flight instruments and the aileron system.
OY-JRO c/n LJ-327 USA
10 seat business aircraft first flown in 1967
Engines: 2x 550shp(410kW) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-2
Length: 35’6”(10.82m)
Height: 14’3”(4.34m)
Wingspan: 50’3”(15.31m)
No.built: 181
Range: 1480miles(2381km)
Cruising speed: 260mph(418kmh) Empty weight: 5685lb(2580kg)
Maximum take-off weight: 9650lb(4381kg)
The aircraft shown above is a cargo conversion
of the B90. The aircraft illustrated next is a standard version.
N984AA c/n LJ-429
The Model C90 King Air (496 built) was introduced in 1971 and was
powered by 2X 550shp(410kW) P&W PT-6A-21 engines. The C90’s cabin
pressurization was changed from supercharger to an engine bleed system.
Apart from these changes it was similar to the Model B90. Two examples
of the Beech C90 are illustrated below.
F-GCLD c/n LJ-637
LN-KCG
c/n LJ-768
An improved version of the Model C90 was the Model C90-1 (47 built)
which was introduced in 1982. It featured the strengthened tailplane of
the Model E90 and improved cabin pressurization. An example of the Beech
C90-1 King Air is illustrated below.
N6723Y c/n LJ-1013
The Model C90-1 was quickly superseded by the Model C90A (228 built)
which was first flown in 1983. It featured high-efficiency ‘pitot cowl’
engine nacelles where the air inlet area is reduced to about half that
on preceding models. An example of the C90A is shown below.
N724KH c/n LJ-1426
The Model C90A began with c/n LJ-1063
onward. Other improvements to the C90A included faired exhaust stacks
and an hydraulically actuated undercarriage retraction system, rather
than the previous electrically operated system. In 1991 Beech introduced
the Model C90B (93 built) which featured a number of improvements over
the Model C90A including four-bladed propellers. The Model C90B remains
in production. An example of the Beech C90B King Air is illustrated
below.
N5154E c/n LJ-1655
Two other variants of the Model C90B also remain in production. The
Model C90B Special Edition which was introduced in 1994 and is a less
expensive version, and the Model C90B Jaguar Special Edition introduced
in 1998. The Jaguar Special Edition involves an aesthetic make-over for
the aircraft at a cost of around $70,000 US. This involves a new Jaguar
green and gold colour scheme with the Jaguar motif, burl walnut trim and
Connoly leather upholstery. Production of the Model C90 continues with
the C90GT (66+ built) which has a maximum take-off weight of
10,100lb(4581kg). More than 1830 Model B/C series aircraft had been
built by early 2007. An example of the Jaguar Special Edition is
illustrated below.
N38XJ
c/n LJ-1512 |
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