Quicker Beech King Air C90 Unveiled

Beech unveiled a new, more powerful version of the King Air C90 at EAA AirVenture 2005. The new version of the venerable turboprop, the C90GT, will have new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A engines rated at 750 shp, which will increase cruise speed from about 245 knots to over 270 knots. The new engines are flat rated to 550 shp so climb rate and high altitude cruise all improve. However, the efficiency of the new engines, and the higher cruise altitudes they provide, give the new airplane the same range with no fuel capacity increase.