Hawker Beechcraft’s Multi-Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER demonstrator aircraft set the record for “Speed Over a Recognized Course” durin...
Hawker Beechcraft’s Multi-Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER demonstrator aircraft set the record for “Speed Over a Recognized Course” during a Sept. 11 flight at 276.03 miles per hour (444.23 km/h) from Luxor, Egypt to Nairobi, Kenya. It is a new world record, sanctioned by both the NAA and the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) in Switzerland.
The record setting flight covered 1,681 nautical miles and consumed 3,770 lbs. of fuel, about 73 percent of the total usable fuel capacity of 5,192 lbs.
While this record-setting flight was done with the external configuration of a surveillance aircraft (with radome and strakes installed), in a standard King Air 350ER with the slick interior (ready for mission equipment and mission modifications) that same flight would leave 3,510 lbs. of useful load for crew, mission equipment and fuel reserves. This range/payload demonstration is why the aircraft is so popular for special mission applications in the U.S. and around the world.
The Multi-Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER demonstrator aircraft is a standard extended-range airplane, which is capable of more than 12 hours endurance or more than 2,500 nautical mile range.
The demonstrator has been fitted with a search radar radome with electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) lift for surveillance missions, high density seating for military transport missions, and two medical sleds and a medical storage cabinet for air ambulance missions.
All of these installations are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency, and available for immediate delivery on new aircraft from the factory.
