According to many pilot reviews, the Beechcraft King Air is exceptional at handling bad weather, and is the ideal plane for flying in storm clouds, gusting winds, snow showers and even in wind shear advisories.
Overall, the King Air is well known to be immune to problems presented by rough runways, unexpected mechanical woes, icing, etc. Here’s why pilots themselves are raving about the Beechcraft King Air’s performance in bad weather:
- The King Air’s autofeather system – if an engine quits, the prop automatically feathers to a low-drag angle making the plane easier to control.
- Many pilots don’t feel it necessary to engage the autopilot in order to keep the plane on the desired heading and altitude.
- The King Air is very stable and easily held at reasonable altitude even in modest turbulence.
- The Beechcraft King Air is extremely responsive to power changes and the system’s complexity seems equal to other comparable planes.
Other features of the King Air that have recently been improved are the runway performance enhancements. Specifically, the King Air has increased takeoff performance that many users have been asking for and it explains why about half of the Beechcraft King Air 250s are owner-flown rather than professionally crewed.
All King Air models now feature Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The user interface, presentation and capabilities of the Collins Pro Line are vastly better than what’s presented on comparable planes. The construction quality is exceptional, both in fit and finish, and the pilot seat is far more adjustable to accommodate a range of pilots.
Taxiing and takeoff in the Beechcraft King Air is much easier for a beginner than many planes and insurance companies agree, quoting similar rates and training requirements for the King Air as the Pilatus for example. Takeoff requires that the pilot be 100% responsible for engine torque and temperature, but the consequences of over-torqueing a free turbine such as the one in the King Air are much less significant than that of direct-drive engines.
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