Hawker Beechcraft King Air C90SE Specs and Description

Background/History

In January 1964, the first Beechcraft 65-90 took to the air. Based on the piston-engined Model 65 Queen Air, the -90 featured the then-new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop powerplants in place of the earlier 65’s Lycoming flat-six piston engines. A pressurized model was developed, and was designated the King Air 90. Many variants followed including the PT6A-20-powered A90 and B90, and the C90 powered by the PT6A-21. The C90A, introduced in 1984, incorporated an improved cowling design for more efficient air induction and reduced drag, an updated three-bus electrical system, hydraulically actuated landing gear, and Collins Pro Line avionics. In 1991 the C90A was replaced by the C90B with its four-bladed propellers and a new interior with significant improvements in cabin noise levels. The C90SE “Special Edition” is designed for single-pilot operation as the least expensive King Air, utilizing three-bladed props and panel-mounted avionics to achieve cost savings over the similarly performing but more expensive C90B.

Power

The King Air C90SE is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21 reverse flow, axial-centrifugal turboprop engines flat-rated at 550shp at ISA +18C, each driving a 93.4-inch Hartzell three-bladed, full-feathering, reversible, constant speed propeller. Inspection interval on the engines is 3,600 hours.

Avionics

The panel of the King Air C90SE is fitted with panel-mount radios and electromechanical instrumentation in lieu of the more costly EFIS equipment of the C90B. Only the left side of the instrument panel has a full complement of flight and navigation instruments; the right side has flight instruments only. Available equipment includes the Bendix/King CNI-5000 avionics suite with KFC-250 flight director/autopilot andRDS-81 color weather radar. Gauges for gas generator speed and torque incorporate digital readouts in addition to analog indicators.

Design Features

The King Air C90SE is a low-cost pressurized, twin-engine turboprop business aircraft configured as a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a conventional tail and aft ventral fin. It has hydraulically-actuated tricycle landing gear with a single wheel on each unit and an airstair door located aft of the wing on the port side of the fuselage. Panel-mounted electro-mechanical instrumentation and avionics help contain costs, reduce weight and allow the up the C90SE’s nose bay to be used as a baggage compartment. The airframe lacks the dynamic vibration absorbers of the more expensive C90B but does retain the bagged cabin insulation resulting in a slightly noisier cabin than the C90B.

Accomodations

The King Air C90SE is configured for six passengers, with all seats facing forward plus the cockpit right seat available for an extra passenger if desired. The forward two seats are designed to turn 180 degrees and face aft to allow for forward club seating. The aft area of the fuselage accomodates a baggage area The C90SE has no folding worktable, cabinetry or lavatory in its standard layout. A 16cu.ft. baggage compartment with a 350lb. capacity occupies the nose bay, since the avionics are panel-mounted without need for remote-mounted components. Internal cabin dimensions are 4.8ft. in height, 4.5ft. in width and 12.4ft. in length.