AirAmericas

Textron to Supply Beechcraft King Air 260s for Canadian Air Force Training

Textron Aviation has secured a contract to deliver seven Beechcraft King Air 260 multi-engine aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program.

The planes will replace the military’s Beechcraft King Air C-90B fleet that has been operating for flight practice since 2005.

The new systems will feature a night vision-compatible cockpit, engineer monitoring, digital audio system, specialized wing angle, full-face oxygen masks, and observer, emergency, and passenger seats.

Deliveries will begin in the first half of 2028, with the systems to be stationed at Southport, Manitoba.

SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, will supervise sessions for the FAcT program.

“Acquiring the Beechcraft King Air 260 for FAcT reinforces our commitment to providing outstanding military pilot training with proven, high-performing aircraft at Southport,” SkyAlyne Board Chair & KF Aerospace President and CEO Tracy Medve said.

“KF Aerospace has been proud to operate and maintain the King Air C90B for nearly 20 years as part of the current training program and we’ve built a strong foundation of expertise on this airframe. Bringing in the larger and more advanced King Air 260 will enable KF, our partners at SkyAlyne and the RCAF to deliver next-level multi-engine training under the FAcT program.”

First International Sale

The latest sale to Canada is Textron’s first King Air 260 deal for an international customer.

It came after the company’s first King Air 260 shipment for the US Navy in April 2024.

“We are honored the King Air 260 has been selected, this time to fulfill the RCAF’s multi-engine training needs,” Textron Aviation Special Missions Sales VP Bob Gibbs stated.

“The King Air 260 will modernize multi-engine aircraft training by providing an intermediate and advanced training platform for RCAF pilots destined for operational squadrons in the heavy transport, maritime patrol or search and rescue roles.”

The Beechcraft King Air 260 in flight
The Beechcraft King Air 260 in flight. Photo: Textron Aviation

Canada’s Future Aircrew Training Program

The RCAF’s 25-year FAcT program will deliver modern lessons for pilots, ground station personnel, and maintenance teams to retain competitiveness against current and future threats.

In 2024, Ottawa invested almost $10 billion to employ up to 70 aircraft to support the program.

Alongside Textron’s King Air 260s, the training fleet includes the Airbus H135 helicopter, Grob G120TP low-wing, Pilatus PC-21 tandem cockpit, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 regional airliner systems.

Textron’s Beechcraft King Air 260

The Beechcraft King Air 260 measures 43 feet (13 meters) long and has a wingspan of 57 feet (17 meters).

It has a payload capacity of 3,760 pounds (1,706 kilograms) and a base seating design that can accommodate up to nine passengers.

The plane is fitted with a twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engine with 850 horsepower each for a maximum speed of 310 knots (365 miles/574 kilometers per hour), an altitude up to 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), and a range of 1,720 nautical miles (1,979 miles/3,185 kilometers).

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