Aircraft Overview: King Air 360/360ER
Aircraft Overview: King Air 360/360ER
King Air 360/360ER
Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft King Air 360 and 360ER are twin-engine turboprops that are commercial designations for the company’s Model B300, while the King Air 360C and 360CER are commercial designations of the Model B300C that is equipped with a cargo door.
The King Air 360 and 360ER were announced by the airframe manufacturer on Aug. 4, 2020, as replacements for the King Air 350i and 350iER, with FAA certification and the entry into service/first delivery being announced on Oct. 5, 2020, and Nov. 12, 2020, respectively.
Cabin
According to the FAA type certificate data sheet (TCDS) that includes the Models B300 and B300C, both can have as many as 17 seats—with two of those seats being for crew—and can be operated by only one pilot.
Despite that certified capacity, Textron Aviation markets the King Air 360 as able to accommodate a maximum of 11 occupants, a capacity that the King Air 360ER increases to 15.
Passengers on those airframes are accommodated in a cabin that has a length of 19 ft. 6 in., height of 4 ft. 9 in. and width of 4 ft. 6 in.
The King Air 360 is also capable of accommodating 1,150 lb. of baggage and has a baggage volume of 71.3 ft.3, while the King Air 360ER has a 55.3 ft.3 baggage volume and a baggage capacity weight of 550 lb.
Avionics
Another feature common to these versions of the King Air is Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system, which includes, as standard, three touchscreen displays that measure 14 in., dual navigation and communication radios, dual flight management systems (FMS), an integrated terrain awareness and warning system (ITAWS), a Multi-Scan Weather Radar system and a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS II).
Also standard is an automatic flight guidance system (AFGS), engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS), graphical flight planning, charts and maps that are integrated, and a synthetic vision system (SVS).
These airframes also incorporate a digital pressurization controller, as well as an Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) autothrottle that is marketed as the ThrustSense Autothrottle and described as “automatically managing engine power” during various phases of flight.
Unlock the data behind the charts with Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s Fleet & Data Services. Learn more at aviationweek.com/bcaaircraftoverview.
For a comprehensive Program Profile including recent articles, program suppliers and current operators, please access via AWIN subscription here.
Variants
Powering both the King Air 360 and 360ER are two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines that have takeoff and maximum continuous engine limits of 1,050 shp.
These airframes are also equipped with four-blade Hartzell propellers that are aluminum, autofeathering and constant-speed.
Although these King Airs have a common engine, differences exist in the maximum weights, with the King Air 360 limited to a 15,000-lb. maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), a weight limitation that the King Air 360ER increases to 16,500 lb.
Furthermore, the King Air 360ER’s 775-gal. (5,192 lb.) maximum usable fuel capacity also exceeds the King Air 360’s 539-gal. (3,611 lb.) usable fuel capacity.
Mission and Performance
Beyond those common features, the Models B300 and B300C have a common maximum operating altitude of 35,000 ft. and a maximum operating speed of 263-kt. indicated airspeed (KIAS).
However, Textron Aviation states that the King Air 360ER has a limit speed of 245 KIAS. Similarly, the latter King Air is capable of a maximum cruise speed of 303-kt. true airspeed (KTAS), a figure that the King Air 360 increases to 312 KTAS.
The takeoff field lengths of the King Air 360 and 360ER are 3,300 ft. and 4,057 ft., respectively, with the takeoff field length of the former King Air based on sea-level altitude, a “standard day” and no wind; a paved runway that is dry and level; and the airframe’s MTOW.
Additionally, the King Air 360’s 2,692-ft. landing distance is less than the King Air 360ER’s comparable figure of 2,980 ft.
Also, assuming no wind and a standard day—as well as a ferry mission flown at the airplane’s long-range cruise speed and when carrying National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) instrument flight rules (IFR) reserves “(100 nm alternate)”—the King Air 360 has a maximum range of 1,806 nm, a distance the King Air 360ER increases to 2,539 nm.
Aviation Week Network is home to market-leading data and intelligence products. Find out which database is best for your business.
www.aircharterguide.com/
www.aircraftbluebook.com
www.acukwik.com/Products
www.airportdata.com
www.fleet.aviationweek.com