Beechcraft King Air 90

Turboprop twin engine • Low Wing • Retractable gear

Range Map

Origin:

• nm at current load

• click map to move • two fingers to move map

Payload vs. Range

Configure weights

Occupants

lb + lbs / pax

Select payload

gal

Fuel on board

lbs

Extra weight

Range

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.

Fuel capacity reduced by gallons ( gal usable for nm range).

Over max gross weight. Reduce payload by lbs to safely operate this aircraft.

Extra weight is the additional payload available with your selected passengers.

Mission Profile

Used market

245

KTAS

Cruise Speed

1,468

Max Range

27,620

Service Ceiling

Occupants

384

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

High-Performance
Complex
High-Altitude
Pressurization
Multi-Engine
Instrument

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Beechcraft King Air 90

Type certificated 1972

Overview

The King Air 90 family is the founding lineage of Beechcraft’s pressurised twin-turboprop dynasty, in production from 1964 through 2024 across nine major variants. The figures and notes on this page reflect the E90, manufactured 1972 to 1981 and widely regarded as the family’s sweet spot. The E90 marries the compact C90 fuselage with the more powerful 550-shp PT6A-28 engines and the 474-gallon fuel system inherited from the King Air 100, producing a turboprop with substantially better climb and range than earlier 90-series variants without the cost or complexity of the larger 200-series.

For the GA buyer, the E90 sits at the entry point of pressurised cabin-class turboprop ownership: docile handling, a well-supported airframe, parts and training abundance, and the depth of operator knowledge that comes with one of the longest-running production runs in business aviation.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Range and endurance. With 474 gallons of usable fuel and roughly 71 GPH cruise burn, the E90 ranges 1,468 nautical miles, making it a credible cross-country machine in a family otherwise known for short-leg corporate work.
Robust engines. PT6A-28 turbines flat-rated to 550 shp deliver consistent hot-and-high performance and the durability the PT6 family is known for, with a 3,600-hour TBO.
Forgiving transition. Among legacy turboprops, the King Air 90 has the reputation as the easiest step up from a piston twin, with handling that rewards rather than punishes.
Cabin comfort. The square-oval pressurised cabin seats up to seven, with the iconic aft airstair door for unaided passenger boarding.

Trade-offs

Maintenance discipline required. Phase 1-4 inspections and the 72-month landing-gear inspection cycle are non-negotiable, and operators who defer them face escalating costs at the next pre-buy.
Slow by modern standards. 245-knot cruise is fine for the mission profile but well off the 280 to 300 knots of newer single-engine turboprops like the TBM 940 or PC-12.
Avionics ageing. Many E90 airframes still carry analogue panels; budget for a Garmin G500 TXi or G1000 NXi retrofit if a modern flight deck matters.
Operating cost step-up. Two PT6 turbines and pressurisation push costs well above piston twins: budget roughly 790 USD per hour in variable direct costs (fuel, maintenance, engine reserve), with all-in hourly costs closer to 1,300 to 1,450 USD once insurance, hangar, inspections, and depreciation are amortised at low utilisation.

Base model

Beechcraft Queen Air 65

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 14.25 ft
Length: 35.5 ft
Parking area (ft²): 2440.13 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: 10,100 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 9,700 lbs
Useful Load: 3,560 lbs
Fuel Capacity: 474 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: 245 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 226 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 226 KIAS
Approach Speed: 100 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): Estimated/derived; not a published figure 88 KIAS
Range: 1468 NM
Service Ceiling: 27,620 ft
Rate of Climb: 1870 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 2,024 ft
Landing ground roll: 2,110 ft

Engines

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Beechcraft King Air 90 specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.