Page 19 - May 2019

further the ranch-inspired design, Panama Antigua croc-embossed leather lines the sidewalls. Along with the Ten- du wood grain sides and cabinetry, the King Ranch 350i showcases an elegant interior that teams the brown leather and sidewalls with bright window panels and headliner.
To top it off, the King Ranch 350i has the Running W logo embossed on the aft bulkhead of the 55 cubic feet aft baggage compartment. The theme continues with custom hair on leather pillows, throw carpets and even Running W whiskey glasses in the galley
Upgraded Avionics
With the latest Beechcraft King Air 350i, Beechcraft has significantly up- graded the avionics. The aircraft fea- tures Pro Line Fusion and now includes Collins Aerospace’s latest multi-scan weather radar. This new radar (the same one found in the Cessna Citation CJ4) provides the pilot with a comprehensive view of precipitation with pre-selected tilt angles, which are compared to ter- rain and obstacle data to remove ground clutter and provide a more accurate
volumetric view of potential threats. To improve traffic awareness, the 350i now has TCAS II as standard equipment.
Along with the adoption of Pro Line Fusion, Beechcraft greatly simplified the maintenance schedule for the 350i. Be- fore, there were four phase inspections, one every 200 hours. All four had to be completed within 24 months. Concurrent with the Fusion upgrade, the calendar limit has been extended to 48 months. This was particularly advantageous for owners with low annual utilization and operators that f ly more frequently can now combine inspections. Both operator groups now benefit from lower downtime for maintenance and operating costs.
Textron Aviation offers two en- gine maintenance programs: Pratt & Whitney Canada’s ESP or the compa- ny’s own Power Advantage. The 350i features five-year limited warranties on the airframe, engines and avionics with two-year limited warranties on other components.
The Flight
A few key things popped out at me as Karen and I spent time doing a thorough
pref light and discussing the features of the 350i:
• TheKingAirhasoneofthemostde- tailed pre-flight checklists I’ve used, with a robust description of each item making for a very complete check.
• Theaircraftcomesstandardwithtwo very large nacelle storage compart- ments, referred to as wing lockers, which can accommodate items up to six feet in length.
• The dual wheel main gear is robust, designed for rough runway opera- tions, and features bleed air heat- ing to dissipate freezing precipita- tion on the ground and while they are retracting.
• Theairplaneholds539gallons(3,611 lbs) of Jet A in the main wing and auxiliary center section fuel tanks. With robust fuel heaters, it does not require fuel anti-ice additives.
Following the preflight, Karen and I selected a flight plan that would provide a solid review of the airplane’s capabilities, with a cruising altitude of FL240 where we could experience the max cruis- ing speed of 312 KTAS. The 350i has a service ceiling of FL350, however, Karen
Hillaero Modification Center
Teledyne Battery
May 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 17