This 1981 Beechcraft King Air C90 Is a Custom-Interior ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Beechcraft King Air C90.

While the King Air 90 series is often celebrated as the entry-level gateway to the turbine world, this specific 1981 C90 proves that “entry level” doesn’t mean “outdated.” It represents a perfect fusion of a proven, time-tested airframe with a cockpit that rivals factory-new business jets.

Introduced in 1971, the C90 variant refined the formula with an advanced bleed-air pressurization system and increased wingspan. Over its production run, the C90 gained a reputation for being overbuilt and incredibly docile to fly, earning it the status of the ultimate owner-flown turboprop. It provided the reliability of the legendary PT6 engine with runway performance that allowed access to thousands of small airports inaccessible to jets.

This aircraft is a standout example of how a legacy platform can be transformed for the modern era.

While the airframe has logged 7,379 hours, the panel is effectively brand new. With an updated 2025 cockpit, it features a comprehensive Garmin suite, including a G600 TXi 10.6-inch PFD with Synthetic Vision, paired with dual touchscreen GTN 750 Xi and 635 Xi navigators. 

Crucially, safety is enhanced by the GFC 600 digital autopilot featuring Smart Rudder Bias, Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), and a “return-to-level” mode—features that dramatically reduce pilot workload and increase safety margins for single-pilot operations.

The upgrades aren’t limited to the avionics.

The interior was completely refurbished in 2017, featuring Wollsdorf leather crew and cabin seats, a white ultra-leather headliner, and custom wood paneled sidewalls. The exterior matches the quality of the 2017 refurbishing, with a black and red alternating paint scheme.

Powered by reliable Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 engines, this C90 is equipped with American Aviation exhaust stacks and a Ram Air Recovery System, optimizing performance for its next mission.

Listed at $925,000, this 1981 Beechcraft King Air C90 offers a rare opportunity to own a classic turboprop with almost no avionics upgrade costs remaining.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Beechcraft King Air 360
• FLYING Magazine: McCauley Celebrates Certification for King Air Props
• Plane & Pilot: The Rarest King Air
• The Aviation Consumer: Moving on Up: Your First Turbine
• AVweb: AVweb Rewind: King Air Autothrottle