King Air 350ER Completes Transatlantic Flight

Hawker Beechcraft has announced the first non-stop transatlantic flight of a King Air 350ER (extended range). The ocean-hopping flight was actually the second leg of a delivery flight. The aircraft was the first of four modified 350ERs ordered by the U.K. Ministry of Defence for its Military Flying Training System program. The King Air flew from Wichita to St. John's, Newfoundland — then on to Bournemouth, United Kingdom for a total distance of more than 4,000 nautical miles. The two flights were completed in less than 12 hours. The King Air 350ER that made the flight was modified with an under-belly radome, designed to accommodate a variety of maritime surveillance radar systems as part of the U.K. training program. The stock King Air 350ER has a range of 2,300 nm and an endurance of greater than 10 hours.