King Air 350 Multi-role Trainer and Transport
The Royal Australian Air Force King Air 350 is a versatile aircraft flown in a number of diverse roles and operating environments in support of the Australian Defence Force.
The King Air 350 is a modern glass cockpit, twin-engine turboprop with two front seat crew and capable of carrying up to four backseat crew or nine passengers.
No 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, operates the King Air 350 as the School of Aviation Warfare training aircraft, with the student in the co-pilot’s seat or in specially fitted consoles in the rear of the aircraft.
Students are being trained for a variety of roles including low-level tactical fast-jet operations and maritime surveillance operations. Low-level tactical and maritime training flights are typically conducted 250 to 1000 feet above ground level.
A jump seat may be fitted centrally behind the pilot and co-pilot to allow an instructor to monitor the student and assist the pilot if required.
Students trained on the King Air will graduate as either Air Combat Officers for the RAAF or as Observers for the Royal Australian Navy.
No 38 Squadron operates the aircraft in the light transport role with a surveillance platform capability . The aircraft operates throughout the Australian, South East Asia and Pacific regions and has been deployed to East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The King Air 350 is designed to operate between 25,000 and 35,000 feet with a load of up to eight passengers with a range of over 2,000 km. 38 Squadron continues to provide transport support to the ADF specifically including the Regional Force Surveillance units operating throughout Northern Australia.
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Raytheon Super King Air 350 technical specifications
| Manufacturer |
Raytheon (Beechcraft) |
| Role |
Multi-role transport, low-level tactical and maritime navigation trainer |
| Crew |
Two pilots, or pilot and navigator/observer, or various crews in training roles |
| Engine |
Two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-60A turboprops driving 4-blade propellers (1050 horsepower each) |
| Airframe |
Length: 14.22m, height: 4.40m |
| Wingspan |
17.65m |
| Weight |
6849kg (basic operations), 1600kg payload |
| Speed |
570km/h (normal operations) |
| Range |
3400km |
| Ceiling |
35,000 feet |
| Accommodation |
Up to six passengers |
