BEECHCRAFT 1900

1983’€“ Present

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The Beech 1900, derived from the King Air 200, was developed by Raytheon to re-enter the regional aircraft market, designed to accommodate 19 passengers.
  • The aircraft evolved through models like the 1900C, with the 1900D (introduced in 1991) featuring significant improvements such as stand-up headroom, larger passenger doors, and enhanced performance from winglets and bigger engines.
  • The Beech 1900 achieved considerable success, with Raytheon delivering its 500th unit by 1997.
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STANDARD DATA: 1900D Seats 19+2. Gross wt. 17,120. Empty wt 10,650. Engines two 1,280-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67D turboprops. Fuel 665.
PERFORMANCE: Max Cruise 288 kts. Initial climb rate 1,910. Ceiling 25,000. Range 1,498 nm. Takeoff 3,813′. Landing 2,790′.

After Raytheon acquired Beechcraft, the company looked for a re-entry into the regional aircraft market. The Beech 1900 derived from the King Air 200 with nearly 18 more feet of fuselage to accommodate the 19 passengers. The first Beech 1900 flew in 1982 with FAA certification coming the next year. The 1900C model was the first significant improvement, upping the fuel capacity another 245 gallons. In 1991, the 1900D began service with a taller fuselage to allow standup headroom and larger passenger doors. Winglets improved and bigger engines improved performance, and the aircraft was also offered in a 10+ seat ExecLiner business configuration. In 1997, Raytheon delivered their 500th Beech 1900.

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