Sat, Sep 17, 2005
Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) will
host this year’s Duke Flyers Association Annual Fly-In,
Sept.15 – 17.
“We are expecting thirty Duke’s to descend upon
Beech Field over the next few days,” said Randy Groom,
Beechcraft’s president and general manager.
“The Duke Flyers Association and Beechcraft have enjoyed a
close connection since the first Duke was delivered in 1968. With
over 300 members, the Duke Flyers Association and its members hold
this event annually at venues across the U.S.”
The Model 60 Beechcraft Duke, a pressurized six-place,
turbo-charged twin, completed its first flight on Dec. 29, 1966 and
went into production in 1968. Between the Baron and the Queen Air
in size, the Duke had a gross weight of 6,400 pounds in size and
was powered by 380hp Lycoming engines. Three derivative models were
manufactured between 1968 and 1982 in Salina, Kansas – the
A60 with engine upgrades, the B60 featuring a wider, longer cabin,
redesigned seats and later a lightweight AiResearch pressurization
system was added. The final improvement came in 1976 when Duke
owners were offered wet-cell wingtip fuel tanks holding 30 gallons
extending the range to 1,287 statute miles at 65% power setting.
The Duke production line ended in 1982. Of the 593 Dukes delivered,
411 are still in service today in North America.
“We are thrilled and honored to be hosting this
year’s fly-in and look forward to seeing 30 of these very
special aircraft lined up on the runway,” Groom said.
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