Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service Acquires Four Beechcraft King Air 360CHW Turboprops

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Royal Flying Doctor Service recently agreed to purchase four Beechcraft King Air 360CHW turboprops with an option for one additional plane. The turboprops will join RFDS’ fleet to serve the state of Queensland. (Photo courtesy of Textron Aviation.)

The Australian aeromedical organisation and 24/7 healthcare service provider Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is adding four Beechcraft King Air 360CHW turboprops to its fleet serving Queensland state. As part of a purchase agreement with Beechcraft brand owner Textron Aviation, RFDS has an option to buy an additional aircraft. Deliveries are to run through 2023 for the aircraft, configured for multi-stretcher and air ambulance operations.

Welcome To The Fleet

Founded in 1928, RFDS claims to be one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organizations. It provides daily emergency medical services from six operating stations across Australia. The new Beechcraft King Air 360CHWs join an RFDS fleet of nearly 80 aircraft, including King Air B200, B200C, B300C, and B350 models, as well as Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24 planes. Textron says it supports nearly 200 King Airs in various configurations in Australia.

Meredith Staib, RFDS CEO (Queensland Section), says the new aircraft are a key component of a 10-year aircraft replacement strategy designed to provide ongoing world-class aeromedical retrievals and healthcare to regional, rural, and remote citizens. RFDS’ twin-engine King Air 360CHWs feature an optional cargo door and heavyweight operations package.

Find Your Beechcraft King Air Aircraft

The CHW configuration also features two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A engines or optional factory-fitted PT6A-67A powerplants, four-blade Hartzell propellers, and a fully integrated Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite with touchscreen controls. The King Air 360 has a maximum range of 1,806 nautical miles (3,344.7 kilometers), a 312-ktas maximum cruise speed, a 5,145-pound (2,333.7-kilogram) useful load, and a 3,300-foot (1,005.8-meter) takeoff field length. Textron says the King Air is the most popular twin-turboprop aircraft in Australia.

You’ll find a big selection of new and used Beechcraft planes for sale every day on Controller.com, including King Air 200s, 300s, 350s, and more.

Source: Textron Aviation