Page 15 - May 2019
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEXTRON AVIATION
King Air 350i
King Ranch Edition
by Rich Pickett
Since manufacturing the first King Air 90 in 1964, Beechcraft King Air products have earned the reputation of capable and versatile
aircraft recognized by pilots worldwide. Today, more than 7,300 units of the iconic turboprop have been produced, with Textron Aviation currently offering the following commercial versions: King Air C90GTx, King Air 250, King Air 350i, King Air 350ER.
Though the largest model, King Air 350i (the “i” stands for interior), has been in production since 2009, Textron Aviation recently released a special edition with renowned agricultural brand, King Ranch. Similar to a branding deal existing between King Ranch and Ford Motor Company, the King Ranch option presents customers with a rustic-themed exterior and interior along with complementary accessories.
Upon completing the first production King Ranch edition, Textron Aviation invited Twin & Turbine to experience the uniquely configured 350i up close. Joined by T &T Editor Rebecca Groom Jacobs, I had the opportunity to speak with the interior design team as well as fly the aircraft at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.
May 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 13
