On Tuesday, July 23, Textron Aviation, the parent company of , revealed a new special edition livery for the King Air to honor a major milestone in the aircraft's history. The new livery, which has been nicknamed the Crimson Edition, was unveiled to honor the King Air's 60th anniversary of being in production. Future customers can begin ordering this special edition livery, and deliveries of special edition aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2025.
Textron Aviation will bring several Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft to the event. The announcement of the new option came on the second day of . This annual exhibition and air show is one of the largest general aviation events in the world.
The event is held at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) in Oshkosh, , and has so many attendees from across the world that the airport becomes the busiest in the world during the week-long event. This year's EAA AirVenture is being held from July 22 through July 28. The new 60th anniversary special edition option is scheduled to be applicable to both the and the larger .
This special edition aircraft is meant to honor the iconic Beechcraft King Air brand that has dominated the turboprop industry over the last 60 years. The Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Textron Aviation, Christi Tannahill, spoke about the Crimson Edition King Air. She stated, "The Crimson Edition of the King Air provides customers with an immersive experience that pays tribute to the turboprop’s renowned legacy, while also featuring modern luxuries and upgrades that showcase the aircraft's ongoing evolution.
We’re honored to celebrate a prestigious aircraft that is beloved by so many customers around the world." The Crimson Edition features a unique and vibrant red, black, and silver exterior livery. It still keeps the iconic Beechcraft logo on its tail.
Upgrades were made to the boarding step as well, which includes graphite silver finishes. Upgrades to the interior were designed as well. This includes the addition of the vintage Beechcraft logo on the lower sidewalls and on the aft cabin bulkhead panel.
The interior also features dark leather seats with a red accent and Alcántara accent panels. The floor of the cabin includes charcoal carpeting with crimson lining that is similar to the exterior paint scheme. As previously mentioned, the King Air debuted 60 years ago in September 1964.
The original aircraft were known as the Model 90 and the Model 100, whereas the larger variants, the King Air Model 200 and Model 300, were originally designated as the Super King Air. This popular twin-engine turboprop is one of the most successful aircraft in the industry, due to its versatility, which includes a cargo variant, passenger variant, and other special mission configurations. Currently, Textron Aviation produces the King Air 260 and the King Air 360 variants, which are both heavily upgraded aircraft.
These aircraft have the following performance specifications: Specifications King Air 260 King Air 360 Length 43 feet ten inches 46 feet eight inches Height 15 feet 14 feet four inches Wingspan 57 feet eleven inches 57 feet eleven inches Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 12,500 pounds 15,000 pounds Cruise speed 310 knots (357 miles per hour) 312 knots (359 miles per hour) Range 1,720 nautical miles (1,980 miles) 1,806 nautical miles (2,078 miles) Service ceiling 35,000 feet 35,000 feet.
