USN seeks M/E replacement for T-44

[chopper2004]

Navy is looking for A replacement for its legacy T-44 Pegasus.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/7436713d-4a0e-4f0d-a888-d3f17794189c

Some of their requirements Include a cruise speed of no less than 195 kt, a service ceiling no less than 20,000 ft, and endurance no less than 3.5 hours (while performing certain stated flight profiles). Other specifications included passenger seating numbers, baggage carrying loads, and other items.

Any thoughts ?

cheers

[Jhieminga]

This one perhaps: https://beechcraft.txtav.com/en/king-air-350i ?

[Lonewolf_50]

T-44 has had a long and distinguished career as a small sized King Air variant that replaced the S-2.
When I last worked with that program there was a non trivial problem with the avionics upgrade and the move toward a digital cockpit. But it's been some years.
They've been ridden hard and put away wet; they were supplemented by C-12's for a while, which is a slightly bigger King Air variant.

I think Jhieminga's idea isn't a bad one: how big and which options will create a bun fight at NAVAIR, I suspect. A pretty cost effective training platform; the simulation side could use a boost: replacement needs for the sim to be an integrated part of the buy.

[West Coast]

The 300 is a great plane. It surpasses the requirements in the OP's post. However there is a significant increase in price. AFAIK Beech is still producing the 90 series, there are after market engine mods available that would satisfy the perf aspects of the requirements, perhaps at the detriment of endurance.

[Jhieminga]

To be honest, I just picked the first King Air that popped up on the Textron site. But I really think that if you can still get a new King Air, why not go for that if it has served you well so far. What other twin-turboprop can we come up with in this class?