Beechcraft Be-230

Twin Turboprop

The Beechcraft Super King Air 200 series, introduced in 1974, became the most successful turboprop business aircraft ever built, with over 2,000 delivered across military and civilian operators worldwide. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprops producing 850 shaft horsepower each, the King Air 200 offered a compelling blend of 300-knot cruise speed, 1,700-nautical-mile range, and pressurized comfort for up to ten passengers, all while operating from runways as short as 2,500 feet. The type earned a reputation for exceptional reliability and low operating costs, making it the backbone of air ambulance fleets, corporate flight departments, and regional cargo operators from the Arctic to the Australian outback. Military variants serve with dozens of air forces under designations including the C-12 Huron (U.S. Army and Air Force), UC-12 (U.S. Navy and Marines), and B200T (special missions). The aircraft's rugged landing gear, known-icing certification, and single-pilot IFR capability allowed it to operate in conditions that grounded many jets, while its spacious cabin and large cargo door made it equally at home hauling freight, patients, or executives. Beechcraft continued refining the design through the 1980s and 1990s with the B200 and later variants, incorporating more powerful engines, increased gross weight, and advanced avionics, but the fundamental airframe remained largely unchanged, a testament to the original design's excellence. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.