Page 24 - Volume 18 Number 3

EN ROUTEBeechcraft Celebrates 50th Anniversary of King Air’s First FlightCelebration launches year-long commemoration of the King AirOn January 20, 2014, Beechcraft Corporation the legendary King Air brand,” said Bill Boisture, CEOVolunteer Pilots Neededrecognized the 50th anniversary of the first of Beechcraft. “The King Air captures more than 50flight of the King Air Model 90 with several three-ship passes of the company’s current production King Air models, flying over Beech Field in Wichita, Kansas, as employees and guests watched.percent of the worldwide business turboprop market each year because we’ve continued to innovate and build upon its foundation with the latest advancements in technology, durability, utility and comfort. Today’s celebration launches a year-long commemoration of the King Air legacy that began in earnest with the first flight of that first prototype.”“The significance of that first flight 50 years agocannot be overstated, nor can the work of Beechcraftersover the past five decades to turn that one model intoVolunteers flying for the environment since 1979.The first official flight of the conforming prototype ofthe King Air Model 90 was made on January 20, 1964, to6th Horizontalbegin an FAA-approved accelerated flight test program.Phone: 307-332-3242 • www.lighthawk.orgWith five aircraft in the program, the King Air receivedtype certification from the FAA four months later, on May 27. First customer deliveries began in July, 1964.The King Air is the best-selling business aircraft family in the world with nearly 7,200 King Airs delivered and a worldwide fleet having surpassed 60 million flight hours. The three-ship 50th Anniversary flight includedVolunteer Pilots NeededLektroFull PagePhone: 307-332-3242 www.lighthawk.orgolunteers flying for the environment since 1979.4/C AdVolunteer Pilots NeededVolunteers flying for the environment since 1979.Phone: 307-332-3242 www.lighthawk.orgV22 • TWIN & TURBINEMARCH 2014Quarter