Beechcraft Q1 Deliveries up 81 Percent

** Beechcraft King Air 350**

Last year’s restructuring is paying dividends for Beechcraft, at least in terms of deliveries. The manufacturer handed over 59 airplanes to new owners in the first quarter, compared with 37 for the same time frame last year. The deliveries included 16 King Air 350i/ER turboprop twins; 13 King Air 250s; five King Air 90 GTx models; nine T-6A/B/C military trainers; seven G58 Baron piston twins and nine G36 Bonanzas.

The King Air series continues to live up to its name, topping worldwide sales in its class. According to Beech, King Airs accounted for 94 percent of global twin-turboprop sales last year. And in the first quarter of 2013, the King Air fleet achieved the milestone figure of 60 million hours flown.

Important to the continued success of the T-6-series military program, sometime in the second quarter Beech expects to learn the results of its protest lodged with the U.S. General Accounting Office after losing its bid — for the second time — for the Air Force’s Light Air Support contract.

But CEO Bill Boisture is still pleased with this year’s results, so far. He said, “Beechcraft Corporation’s first quarter success is a great start for our new company. Our plan throughout last year’s restructuring was to emerge as a stronger, more agile organization able to compete in any economy. We are pleased with how our customers are responding to our products and services.”

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox