Three Kansas City-based companies — Executive Beechcraft, Garmin International and Data Systems International Inc. — recently formed a trifecta to become the first to retrofit a King Air C90 with Garmin’s G1000.
The first King Air in the country to have the system installed is owned by Data Systems International, Inc.’s founder and CEO, Mike McGraw.
“This is the culmination of a two-year effort,” said Scott Tychsen, president of Executive Beechcraft, which is based at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC). “We’ve worked closely with Garmin to bring the G1000 to market for the King Air C90.”
A recently approved STC made the G1000 avionics system available for retrofit on the King Air C90 aircraft series.
McGraw learned about the panel upgrade, and was intrigued by the possibilities.
“I wanted every bit of situational awareness I could gather in the cockpit,” he said. “And that’s exactly what I get with the G1000 glass panel. I consider it my co-pilot in the safe and reliable operation of my King Air.”
Executive Beechcraft has already delivered a second King Air with glass and has additional King Air C90s scheduled for the upgrade at both its Kansas City and St. Louis locations.