U.S. Army special-missions equipped Beechcraft King Air 300 surpasses 50,000 flight hours

WICHITA, Kan. (June 24, 2021) – Textron Aviation celebrates its leadership of the twin-engine turboprop segment by announcing a Beechcraft King Air 300, delivered in 1987 and in service in the U.S. Army fleet of aircraft since 2009, has surpassed a significant 50,000 flight hours milestone. 

The Beechcraft King Air is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company. 

“The Beechcraft King Air is the world leader in twin-turboprop special mission operations because of the aircraft’s unmatched capabilities, ruggedness and reliability,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales and Strategy for Textron Aviation.  “On behalf of our Textron Aviation employees who proudly sell, build, deliver and support the U.S. Army’s Beechcraft King Air fleet, it is our distinct privilege to congratulate them on this momentous milestone.”

The milestone King Air 300 is one of a larger fleet of Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARSS) aircraft.  MARSS aircraft are quick reaction capability assets supporting the U.S. Army’s requirement for aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.  MARSS delivers imagery and signals intelligence data directly to the warfighter. 

“The King Air Model 300 platform has been a solid performer,” stated Col. James DeBoer, project manager, U.S. Army Fixed Wing Project Office. “The aircraft was utilized heavily in CENTCOM to fill capability gaps over the past decade. An aircraft that was able to reach 50,000 flight hours, with more than 30,000 hours in mostly austere environments, deserves recognition as do the Soldiers who flew and maintained the aircraft, and those who stood at the ready to support its missions through parts replacement, repairs and other requirements.”

Nearly 7,600 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964, making it the best-selling business turboprop family in the world. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 62 million flight hours in its 57 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world. 

When government, military and commercial customers want airborne solutions for critical missions, they turn to Textron Aviation.  The company’s aviation solutions provide the high performance and flight characteristics required to address the unique challenges of special mission operations. With unparalleled quality, versatility and low operating costs, Textron Aviation products are preferred for air ambulance, ISR, utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection, training and a number of other special operations.

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We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 90 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight.

For more information, visit www.txtav.com  |  www.defense.txtav.com  |  www.scorpionjet.com.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com

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