Summary

  • Textron Aviation sold three King Air 360C aircraft to Gama Aviation for air ambulance services in Scotland.
  • The purchase agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) for the largest Beechcraft aircraft.
  • Gama Aviation will operate the new aircraft to provide crucial emergency services to Scottish communities.

On Monday, July 29, Textron Aviation, the parent company of Beechcraft, announced the sale of three Beechcraft King Air 360C aircraft. The three aircraft are to be sold to Gama Aviation, which is based in the United Kingdom. Gama Aviation will convert the King Air 360Cs into air ambulances to be used for medical evacuation services. The Gama Aviation aircraft will support the missions of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).

New King Air order

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The purchase agreement was inked at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), which occurred from July 22 through July 26 at Farnborough Airport (FAB). Specifically, the three aircraft on order are the largest aircraft that Beechcraft produces, the King Air 360. Gama Aviation purchased the King Air 360C, which is equipped with a large cargo door on the side of the fuselage.

The Vice President of Special Mission Sales at Textron Aviation, Bob Gibbs, spoke about the new agreement, stating,

“By providing a wide range of essential healthcare services to regional, rural and remote communities, the mission scope of the Scottish Air Ambulance requires 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week operational availability. Continuing to be the supplier of choice for emergency services in Scotland is a testament to the King Air’s performance when each second matters.”

The aircraft will be delivered to Gama Aviation in 2025. The UK-based company has provided air ambulance services to Scottish Ambulance Services for over 30 years. Gama Aviation has also previously operated the Beechcraft King Air as an air ambulance system. Together, Gama Aviation and SAS operate together, with SAS providing the staff, while Gama Aviation provides the aircraft, the crew, and maintenance support for the aircraft.

Beechcraft King Air 360

Photo: Textron Aviation

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gama Aviation, Marwan Khalek, stated,

“Strategically the KA360C hits the mark, providing good, direct operating costs and flight performance with a highly scalable mission platform we will modify at Gama Aviation. The completed aircraft, on entry into service, will represent a substantial step-up in the provision of pre- and intra-hospital care for the people of Scotland.”

About the King Air 300 series

The King Air has been one of the most successful Beechcraft aircraft since its inception in the 1960s. Currently, Beechcraft produces two heavily upgraded variants, the King Air 260 and the King Air 360. These are part of the family that was once considered the Beechcraft Super King Air.

King Air 350 flying away

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock

The Beechcraft King Air 360 was first introduced in October 2020. This aircraft is the most upgraded variant of the King Air 300 series, which began in 1984. It features an upgraded avionics system and several interior upgrades, which include digital pressurization and a lower altitude pressure. The King Air 360 has the following performance specifications:

Capacity

11 passengers

Length

46 feet eight inches

Height

14 feet four inches

Wingspan

57 feet eleven inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

15,000 pounds

Maximum cruise speed

312 knots (360 miles per hour)

Maximum range

1,806 nautical miles (2,075 miles)

Service ceiling

35,000 feet

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