Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Re-engining of the Beech King Air 90, providing improved performance and lower cabin noise, is expected to be available by the end of the year.
The project, the Kilo Alpha 290, is being developed by Detroit-based Murray Aviation for the five- to eight-seat twin turboprop and is in flight test. According to Murray president Mark Murray, the programme is aimed at the King Air C90 and E90 models.
The conversion involves replacing the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21s with more powerful 745kW (1,000hp) AlliedSignal TPE331-10 engines, derated to 465kW. "As the field elevation increases, we have more take-off power available," says Murray. Other changes include the installation of McCauley five-bladed propellers and a 270kg (595lb) increase in maximum take-off weight.
"Cruise speed is boosted by 70-290kt [130-535km/h], while we can get airborne from a 1,000ft [305m] ground run, and achieve over 4,000ft/min [20m/s] rate of climb," says Murray. The modified aircraft can climb directly to 30,000ft with a full load, while total fuel consumption in the cruise is around 230litres (60USgal)/h. "This gives us around 9h range, or about 3,550km," he says.
Another important benefit gained from the modification is a quieter cabin, which, at 72dBA, "is quieter than that of a Cessna Citation II", claims Murray.
"We are aiming to get an STC [supplemental type certificate] from the FAA [US Federal Aviation Administration] in time for October's NBAA [US National Business Aviation Association] convention," says Murray. The Kilo Alpha 290 deal will be offered to King Air owners for an all-inclusive installed price of about $800,000-900,000. The upgrade may be offered later in kit form through authorised AlliedSignal and Raytheon service centres.
Source: Flight International
