Book on the Beech King Air?

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Member for

20 years 4 months

Posts: 159

Does anyone know of a book detailing the history of the Beech King Air series? I thought I saw one advertised in a magazine a while ago, but now can't find any reference to it!

Original post

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 9,821

I've never heard of one, though the type certainly deserves one.

For what it's worth, there is an excellent book about the Beech Model 50 Twin Bonanza series...that was the plane that was developed into the piston Queen Air...from which the King Air evolved.
it's "Beechcraft Twin Bonanza, Craft of the Masters" by Richard I. Ward...a former head of the Twin Bonanza Owners Association.

It combines a well researched history of both civilian models and military L-23/U-8s, productin records, as well as an owners guide on available mods, maintenance issues and checklists.
It's probably the best book on a GA aircraft I've seen.

Glad to see more GA aircraft books coming out, for years they were few and very far between.

Member for

14 years 3 months

Posts: 99

I'd like to find out where I can get a Twin Bonanza book from. Will search for the site.

trouble is that every Beechcraft book I've seen reads like a company brochure. I reckon Beech kept a very tight rein on anyone wanting access for research purposes sadly.

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 9,821

The Twin Bonanza book I got via Amazon. They don't sell it directly, but put you through to those who do. You pay Amazon, so it's no trouble and very secure.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0965272710/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1283139673&sr=8-1&condition=new

I bought mine from the author's widow...who also happens to have the lowest price. She sent an email telling me she shipped it. After reading it, I sent here an email telling her how much I liked it. Like I said, there isn't much it doesn't say about the type.
BTW: find three view drawings of a Twin Bonanza & King Air ..notice that the wing outboard of the nacelle is identical to the King Airs.

If Beech books sound like company PR, consider that two of the long-time Beech books, Those Incomparable Bonanzas and They call me Mr. Bonanza, were both by Larry Ball..well, Ball was the Bonanza program manager for Beech. He also wrote a book on the Model 18.
I've never read them...mainly I've never found any at a decent price....though in researching this reply I found some for $25 at http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/6678515/used/Those%20incomparable%20Bonanzas
Note: you can buy a new one for $45...so why would anyone buy a used copy for more than $100?

One book I can heartily recommend is Edward H. Phillips' Beechcraft Staggerwing to Starship, Flying Books, 1987.
A bit dated now, but like his excellent Wings of Cessna book, a plane by year breakdown of models with photos, yearly changes, production detalis and prices. Not poetry, but invaluable.

Member for

13 years 6 months

Posts: 1

Larry Ball's books available at Cable Publishing

Hi all,

I'm Larry Ball's daughter. You can get "From Travel Air to Baron: How Beech Created A Masterpiece" from Cable Publishing for $37.49. I'm sure Nan would be willing to ship overseas from the States. But alas there's very little information in his books about King Airs. Here's a link:

http://www.cablepublishing.com/aviationbooks.asp

His other titles are:
Those Incomparable Bonanzas
They Called Me Mr. Bonanza
The Immortal Twin Beech
Those Remarkable Mooneys

"Those Remarkable Mooneys" is available from the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association (MAPA) for $39.95:

http://www.mooneypilots.com/thoseremarkablemooneys.html

Please e-mail me if you have any questions! tracy.ball(at) comcast.net

Cheers,
Tracy

Member for

14 years 3 months

Posts: 99

Wow thanks for responding Tracy. I have the Mooney book. It's the only anecdotal reference book on Al Mooney and his designs but there are huge gaps.

A King Air book would be fantastic but it needs to be done without Beechcraft approving the copy. It also needs to be done now whilst there are many workers still around from that period.

Amazed no one has done it yet.