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Fifty Years of King Airs

The last few years have been pretty rough for Beechcraft, but here’s some good news — yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the first King Air:

http://www.kansas.com/2014/01/20/3239094/beechcraft-marks-50th-anniversary.html

Perhaps this belongs in the Historic section, but King Airs are still being built with no end in sight.

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By: Flying-A - 22nd January 2014 at 03:45

And let’s also remember the forgotten Twin Bonanza….

Especially since it served with the U.S. Army as the Seminole — L-23, later U-8 — from 1953 to 1992 — 39 years!

the Queen Air….which is basically a Twin Bonanza with a “cabin class” fuselage

Originally developed as the L-23F, later U-8F. Besides those procured new, the Army acquired three second-hand: one purchased and two captured from drug smugglers!

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By: J Boyle - 22nd January 2014 at 02:50

Don’t forget the Queen Air as well.

Yes, QAs should be acknowledged, but the King Air has been the star of the show, far outlasting the Queen Air which didn’t outlast the 60s. It has also outlasted its competitors: Turbo Commanders, MU-2s, Merlins, Cessnas, Pipers…
And let’s also remember the forgotten Twin Bonanza, the father of the Queen Air….which is basically a Twin Bonanza with a “cabin class” fuselage.

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By: Mr Merry - 21st January 2014 at 20:44

Don’t forget the Queen Air as well.

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