“Don’t let the gray hair fool ya!” – Eddie Murphy’s lovable grandma character in Nutty Professor reminded us all not to count our elders out of the game quite yet. Such is the case in the legacy King Airs. Sure they’ve passed the 10K mark in total time. Sure they have reached 30+ years in service but these aircraft have been treated like the royalty they are.
Corporate aviation is simply just not that rough on birds. The only real issue we are concerned with about these pampered princesses is stagnation & the resulting issues that come with it. But come on, really, who’s golf game isn’t a little rusty when you haven’t seen a driving range in over 6 months?!
With paint & interiors from a laundry list of companies available all over the countryside at fairly reasonable rates there’s no reason to put off that facelift & make her as pretty (sometimes prettier) than the younglings rolling off the assembly line. Multiple glass panels & engine upgrades options bring the safety, maintenance, & performance up to par with new.
With age comes experience, but that sometimes can be a bad thing for aircraft. Not so with King Airs. The robust design & the even more thorough maintenance requirements keep this machine running like the proverbial top. By no means should anyone avoid an acquisition of a pristine factory new bird if it fits their financial profile, however the current market is continually producing great legacy KingAirs at incredible deals allowing access to these great machines by buyers with smaller check books & current owners are seeing dollar for dollar increased values for upgrades invested.
There is a biblical principle that says “rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Just like investing time in your wife pays you dividends in your marriage, investing a little money in your KingAir just may put you on a second honeymoon.
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About the Author: Carl Davis
Being a Pilot, A&P mechanic, FAA 145 Accountable Manager, and owner of 3 successful aviation businesses is the story of Carl’s calling in life. His passion is his family of 10 & growing them in faith & biblical integrity. Occasionally, you will find him taking a break from it all, flying “low & slow” & doing light aerobatics.
