The Beechcraft King Air 250: A Mix of Comfort and High-Performance
- tdavidson03
- Jan 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 20
The Beechcraft King Air family is renowned for its exceptional performance, reliability, and versatility, and the King Air 250 is no exception. With its powerful engines, modern avionics, and enhanced fuel efficiency, the King Air 250 has quickly become a top choice for operators in various industries, including business aviation, cargo transport, and government services. While the King Air 250 shares many characteristics with its older sibling, the King Air 350, there are key differences that make the 250 an attractive option for those seeking a slightly smaller, more economical, yet equally versatile turboprop.
In this blog, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Beechcraft King Air 250, exploring its standout features, as well as comparing it to the King Air 350 to help you understand why the King Air 250 may be the perfect fit for a wide range of missions.
A Brief Overview of the King Air 250
The Beechcraft King Air 250 was introduced in 2011 as an evolution of the popular King Air 200 series. The model 250 brings forward several enhancements in terms of performance, avionics, and overall design, making it a more fuel-efficient and capable aircraft than its predecessors.
The King Air 250 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engines, which provide increased horsepower and enhanced fuel efficiency compared to older models. The aircraft’s sleek design and advanced avionics suite make it one of the most sophisticated turboprops in its class. Like other King Air aircraft, the 250 is highly versatile and can be configured for a variety of missions, including passenger transport, cargo delivery, and medical evacuation.
While the King Air 250 and King Air 350 share many similarities, the 250 is typically seen as a slightly smaller, more economical option. Its combination of high performance, excellent payload capacity, and low operating costs make it a popular choice for operators looking to balance capability and efficiency.
Key Features of the Beechcraft King Air 250
Powerful and Efficient Engine Performance
The King Air 250 is equipped with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engines, which deliver 1,100 shaft horsepower (SHP) each. These engines offer significant improvements over the previous PT6A-42 engines used in earlier King Air models, providing more power and better fuel efficiency. The increased horsepower translates to a higher cruising speed, improved climb performance, and a greater overall payload capacity, making the King Air 250 a great performer in various operational environments.
With a top speed of approximately 310 knots (575 km/h) and a maximum range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 kilometers), the King Air 250 is an excellent aircraft for both short and medium-haul flights. Additionally, the aircraft’s fuel-efficient engines allow it to operate with lower operational costs, especially when compared to jet-powered aircraft that may require more fuel and more complex maintenance procedures.
Enhanced Aerodynamics for Greater Efficiency
One of the standout features of the King Air 250 is its improved aerodynamics. The aircraft has been designed to be more streamlined, which reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency. The 250 features winglets, which help reduce drag and increase fuel economy by enhancing lift and reducing turbulence. This improvement in aerodynamics contributes to the aircraft's ability to cover longer distances without needing to refuel, making it ideal for regional and inter-city flights.
These aerodynamic improvements also allow the King Air 250 to operate at slightly higher altitudes than previous models, allowing it to avoid weather patterns and congested airspace, further improving flight efficiency and passenger comfort.
Modernized Avionics Suite
The Beechcraft King Air 250 is equipped with the Honeywell Apex avionics suite, which includes an integrated flight management system (FMS), touchscreen control panels, and advanced weather radar. This system provides pilots with an intuitive and user-friendly interface to manage flight planning, navigation, and monitoring of key systems in real-time.
The Honeywell Apex avionics suite also enhances safety by providing advanced situational awareness tools, including a synthetic vision system, terrain awareness, and a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS). These avionics upgrades make the King Air 250 easier to fly and safer to operate, especially for those conducting long-haul or night-time flights.
Additionally, the avionics suite’s automation capabilities allow for more efficient flight operations, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall operational efficiency. With fewer distractions, pilots can focus on the flight path and emergency procedures, leading to safer and more reliable operations.
Comfortable and Spacious Cabin
The King Air 250's cabin is designed to provide a comfortable and productive environment for passengers. The aircraft can seat up to 9 passengers in a variety of seating configurations. The cabin features wide, comfortable seats, ample legroom, and large windows that provide excellent visibility. Passengers will appreciate the quiet, comfortable ride made possible by advanced noise reduction technologies, which help ensure a smooth and peaceful flight experience.
For operators who need to maximize flexibility, the King Air 250's cabin can also be configured for various mission-specific layouts, such as a cargo configuration or a medical evacuation setup. This adaptability allows the King Air 250 to serve as both a business aircraft and a utility vehicle, making it an ideal solution for companies that require both efficiency and versatility.
Advanced Safety Features
As with all King Air aircraft, the King Air 250 is designed with safety as a top priority. In addition to the comprehensive avionics suite, the King Air 250 is equipped with a range of safety features that provide pilots and passengers with peace of mind during every flight. These include a digital autopilot system, electronic stability protection, and advanced engine monitoring systems that provide real-time data on the health of the aircraft’s engines and systems.
The King Air 250 is also designed with redundancy in mind, ensuring that critical systems are backed up in the event of a failure. Its robust construction, along with its modern avionics and safety technologies, make the King Air 250 one of the safest aircraft in its class.
King Air 250 vs. King Air 350: Key Differences
While the King Air 250 and King Air 350 share many similarities, there are several key differences that make each aircraft suited to different types of operations. Below is a comparison of the two models:
Size and Cabin Space
One of the most noticeable differences between the King Air 250 and the King Air 350 is the size and cabin space. The King Air 350 is larger, with a cabin that can accommodate up to 11 passengers in a more spacious interior. The additional size provides more room for comfort and flexibility in terms of seating arrangements and storage.
In contrast, the King Air 250 is slightly smaller, with a maximum capacity of 9 passengers. While it is still a comfortable aircraft for its size, the King Air 250 is better suited for operators who do not require the additional passenger capacity or cabin space that the King Air 350 offers. The King Air 250 is more efficient in terms of both operational costs and fuel consumption due to its smaller size.
Payload Capacity
The King Air 350 has a higher maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 15,000 pounds, compared to the King Air 250’s MTOW of 12,500 pounds. This means that the King Air 350 has a greater payload capacity, allowing it to carry more passengers or cargo on each flight. The King Air 350 also features a larger cargo area and a higher total cabin volume, which makes it better suited for freight operations or missions requiring the transport of bulky equipment.
The King Air 250, while slightly smaller, is still highly capable in terms of payload and can carry a substantial amount of weight relative to its size. However, for operators who need to carry heavier or bulkier loads, the King Air 350 may be the better choice.
Performance and Efficiency
Both aircraft are high-performing turboprops, but the King Air 250 excels in terms of fuel efficiency. The newer PT6A-52 engines and aerodynamic improvements provide the King Air 250 with better fuel economy and lower operating costs compared to the King Air 350. This makes the King Air 250 a more cost-effective option for operators who prioritize efficiency without sacrificing performance.
The King Air 350, on the other hand, offers slightly higher performance in terms of speed, range, and climb rate due to its larger size and more powerful engines. If extended range and high-speed performance are a priority, the King Air 350 may be a better fit for your mission.
Cost Considerations
The King Air 250 is generally more affordable than the King Air 350 in terms of both purchase price and operational costs. The smaller size and enhanced fuel efficiency of the 250 make it a more cost-effective option for operators with smaller fleets or those who primarily operate in regional or short-haul routes. On the other hand, the King Air 350’s additional size and capability come at a higher price point, both in terms of initial cost and maintenance expenses.
Which Aircraft is Right for You?
The Beechcraft King Air 250 is a high-performance turboprop aircraft that offers significant advantages in terms of fuel efficiency, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. While the King Air 350 offers more cabin space, greater payload capacity, and slightly higher performance, the King Air 250 is the ideal option for operators who need a smaller, more economical aircraft for regional flights, cargo operations, and a wide range of other missions.
Both aircraft have their strengths, and the right choice will ultimately depend on your specific operational needs, budget, and mission profile. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable business aircraft, a cargo hauler, or a versatile utility plane, the Beechcraft King Air 250 is a versatile, reliable, and capable aircraft.
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About Crown Aviation Holdings Inc.
Crown Aviation Holdings Inc. ("Crown Aviation") is a Canadian growth-by-acquisition company consolidating the deeply fragmented aviation industry. Seeking independently profitable Cargo, Medevac, Air Ambulance, Parts Sales and Leasing, and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul businesses to own and manage in a single portfolio, Crown Aviation will leverage its more than 100-years of combined aviation operations experience to realize economies of scale. Sharing resources, best practices, partnerships, and emerging technologies amongst portfolio companies, Crown Aviation is committed to building a safer, more efficient, competitive, and sustainable aviation environment. With a proven track record raising large sums of growth capital and extensive M&A expertise, Crown Aviation is executing its growth and expansion mandate from coast to coast and around the world. For more information, we encourage you to visit our website at: www.crownaviation.ca and to contact our management team directly.
Crown Aviation Holdings Inc. | A growth by acquisitions company
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