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Old 25th March 2010 | 10:03
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dixi188
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Joined: Apr 2004
: LAME
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From: Dorset UK
Don't know the full reasons for this Nice looking Beech to fail, but weight growth was one of them.
I believe it started life to be a B200 replacement at 12500 lbs max weight with PT6A-45s. Single crew and faster for the same costs.
During development the weight grew to 15900 lbs and -67A engines were fitted to improve performance.
Delays in production caused Beech to offer a King-Air 300 for 18 months with a full refund against a Starship purchase. I don't know how many got their Starships, but production delays were much more than 18 months.
I had a look round a demonstrator on its way to Paris airshow in about 1987.
Certain things seemed to be not that well thought out. Baggage had to be taken in the door at the front and then through the passenger cabin, then through the toilet to the baggage hold. I would imagine damage to seats and trim would be quite common. I guess an external hold door would have caused more structural problems.
Nice looking machine but you could have a Citation for the same money.
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