The Beech Aircraft division of Raytheon announced four new products and a sharper focus on products support at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Most visible was the C-90GT, described as “a luxury sport utility vehicle.” The C-90 airframe looks no different except for the cowlings, which house big PT6-A-135A engines, flat-rated at 550 hp each to yield better than 270 knots at cruise. The interior is something else, justifying the term “luxury.”
Some 70% of the 6,000 plus King Airs out there are owner flown these days, suggesting to Beech that an upscale C-90 should be strong competition for very light jets. The major C-90 advantage is cabin size. “This is no VLJ,” said one Beech spokesman. “This is a King Air.”
Initial pricing starts at $2.95 million.
Announced at the same time were glass cockpit Bonanzas and Barons, unsurprisingly called the G-36 Bonanza and G-58 Baron.
The new Premier IA jet also was on display at Oshkosh, its Collins cockpit emphasized.
Ed Delansky, head of the company’s support division, announced a new focus on service for “legacy” aircraft – those no longer in production – with rapid response to parts orders.
