Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Beechcraft King Air 300, 350, and 360 series

Matt Thurber

Butler National’s Avcon Industries has received an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for a variety of special-mission modifications to a National Science Foundation (NSF)-University of Wyoming (UW) environmental research Beechcraft King Air B300. The changes include complex integration of structural and electrical modifications to accommodate deployment of various types of sensors on the turboprop twin.
In addition to approval of its King Air Nose Extension sensor mounting provisions on the B300 and 350, the STC includes “wingtip or outboard hard points, also referred to as provisions for external stores, with significant sensor shapes, dual downward and dual upward camera ports, lower fuselage hardpoints with pylons for large external sensors, side-fuselage hardpoints for sensors, and upper fuselage hardpoints for sensors,” according to Avcon. Flight testing was done using generic shapes mounted to the hard points, giving customers a variety of sensor mounting choices for their specific missions.
“The scale of this project was huge, and this aircraft is unique among atmospheric research aircraft,” said Jeff French, professor and head of the department of atmospheric science at UW. “The NSF-UW research King Air is an essential platform to continue and expand the university’s research mission and to serve national research needs. The special mission modified King Air brings tremendous flexibility and adaptability with the multitude of configurations made available with the FAA-certified airplane.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Avcon STCs Multiple Modifications on Special-mission Beechcraft King Air 300

Aircraft is for National Science Foundation-University of Wyoming environmental research 

The changes to the King Air 300 include complex integration of structural and electrical modifications to accommodate deployment of various types of sensors.

Avcon STCs Multiple Mods on Special-mission King Air

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

King Air 300 Series

Hawker Beechcraft

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