JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 75
auto-ignition and in the event of an
engine failure it will firstly attempt
to relight the engine. If that is
unsuccessful, it will then automatically
feather the propeller to reduce drag.
At the other end of the aeroplane,
the large rudder will also play its part
automatically with rudder boost,
offsetting the yaw created by the
asymmetry of the failed engine.
From the pilot’s perspective, this
reduces the workload significantly
in an engine failure after takeoff
(EFATO) and allows the focus to
be centred on flying the aeroplane,
retracting the landing gear and
climbing away at the best single-
engine rate of climb (VYSE) or ‘blue
line’ – a speed of 125kt in the King Air
350i.
From the outside the King Air
is immediately recognisable, but it
is the closer inspection that reveals
the functionality and redundancy
contained within those clean lines.
And it is a characteristic that extends
within the King Air as well.Skin deep
The commonsense approach of the
King Air continues as you approach
the air stair to enter the cabin. The
stair itself has a hydraulic damper
for ease of operation, while dual
seals surround the door frame,
supporting the pressurisation system
and reducing noise in the cabin. On
entry, the baggage compartment is to
the right, towards the tail, allowing
inflight access to luggage. Also in the
aft cabin, a toilet seat is concealed
within a fully functional sideways-
facing seat with a harness. For privacy,
the area can be isolated by a pair of
solid, sliding doors.
Entering the main cabin, eight
seats are arranged in a double-four,
club seating arrangement while the
‘square oval’ cabin cross-section
has a ceiling height of 1.45m. With
a cabin differential of 6.5psi, drop-
down oxygen masks and the ability
to maintain a ‘sea level cabin’ to
16,000ft, the King Air is well suited
to aeromedical operations, as history
has shown, time and again. The air-
conditioned cabin features the King
Air’s distinctive large round windows,
which can have their level of shading
individually controlled. However,
when the aircraft is unpowered on the
ground, all the windows automatically
become dark for both privacy and to
keep the cabin cool.
The cabin fitout features a blend
of leather and highly polished wood,
reminiscent of any business jet withThe 350i features distinctive
winglets.OWEN ZUPP
AIR TEST Beechcraft King Air 350i