US Forest Service Beech 200C Super King Air
In response to the excellent sales of the Beech 100 King Air, the company began working on a slightly larger and heavier version that could fly higher and longer than the Model 100. To accomodate a longer fuselage, Beech switched from a conventional tail layout to a T-tail for better stability and higher ceiling, while the wingspan was made longer as well and uprated engines were added. The Model 200 was marketed as the Super King Air, and first flew in 1972. The US military took an interest in the design, and the first Super King Airs to fly were actually part of a military order; they were delivered as C-12 Hurons. Both civil and military versions entered service in 1974.
The Super King Air (later referred to simply as the "King Air" series, due to a huge number of variants) became very popular with both civilian and military operators. Beech would continually update the design, with a wide variety of aircraft available for order; later variants include the B200 series and Model 350 series with more seats and longer range. It was reliable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to operate. Almost 4000 have been produced as of 2019, and production continues; the King Air is the most widely produced twin turboprop aircraft in existence.
The US Forest Service operates a number of Beech 200s in various roles, but N149Z is unique: it is one of only two USFS aircraft configured for infrared mapping, with infrared cameras carried in the belly. (The other aircraft is a modified Cessna Citation.) N149Z will fly over forest fires and identify hot spots for firefighters to tackle--these could either be new fires, or areas where contained fires might flare up again.
I caught up with this gorgeous aircraft in August 2019, when N149Z was at the Helena Regional Airport: a number of fires had broken out due to hot and windy weather, one just north of Helena itself. That fire was out by the time my friend Nate and I got to the airport, though others were burning in the Lincoln area. It was empty here, but I imagine N149Z will be busy in the coming days.
US Forest Service Beech 200C Super King Air
In response to the excellent sales of the Beech 100 King Air, the company began working on a slightly larger and heavier version that could fly higher and longer than the Model 100. To accomodate a longer fuselage, Beech switched from a conventional tail layout to a T-tail for better stability and higher ceiling, while the wingspan was made longer as well and uprated engines were added. The Model 200 was marketed as the Super King Air, and first flew in 1972. The US military took an interest in the design, and the first Super King Airs to fly were actually part of a military order; they were delivered as C-12 Hurons. Both civil and military versions entered service in 1974.
The Super King Air (later referred to simply as the "King Air" series, due to a huge number of variants) became very popular with both civilian and military operators. Beech would continually update the design, with a wide variety of aircraft available for order; later variants include the B200 series and Model 350 series with more seats and longer range. It was reliable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to operate. Almost 4000 have been produced as of 2019, and production continues; the King Air is the most widely produced twin turboprop aircraft in existence.
The US Forest Service operates a number of Beech 200s in various roles, but N149Z is unique: it is one of only two USFS aircraft configured for infrared mapping, with infrared cameras carried in the belly. (The other aircraft is a modified Cessna Citation.) N149Z will fly over forest fires and identify hot spots for firefighters to tackle--these could either be new fires, or areas where contained fires might flare up again.
I caught up with this gorgeous aircraft in August 2019, when N149Z was at the Helena Regional Airport: a number of fires had broken out due to hot and windy weather, one just north of Helena itself. That fire was out by the time my friend Nate and I got to the airport, though others were burning in the Lincoln area. It was empty here, but I imagine N149Z will be busy in the coming days.