Now that we have the Bombardier Challenger 350 in-game and the A380 progressing smoothly, the question on many peoples minds is “What comes next?” I think that we need to complement the largest civil aircraft in service today with one of the smallest: the Beechcraft B60 Duke.
The Beechcraft Duke family is a family of twin piston-engined, cabin-class light aircraft. Designed by Beechcraft to fill the niche between the models 55 and 58 Barons and the larger King Air 90 series, the Duke is a smart-looking, sporty aircraft, competing directly with the Cessna 421 and Ted Smith (later Piper) Aerostar, themselves superlative flying machines. The Duke offers faster performance than the Cessna and the Beechcraft reputation for handling and solidity that the Aerostar just doesn’t have to the same extent. With a cruise speed exceeding 200 knots and a service ceiling of over 20,000 feet, the B60 Duke makes an excellent cross-country machine. Therefore, I believe the zenith of the family, the B60, to be an excellent choice to add to Infinite Flight, taking its place on FBO ramps and GA aprons amongst Skyhawks, Carbon Cubs, TBMs, and Challengers.
Performance and Related Specifications:
MTOW: 6,675 lbs
MLW: 6,675 lbs on 10-ply tires (6,600 on 8-ply)
Empty Weight: 4,425 lbs
Max. Ramp Weight: 6,819 lbs
Useful Load: 2,394 lbs
Takeoff Distance (Ground Roll): 2,075 ft
Takeoff Distance (50-ft Obstacle): 2,626 ft
Accelerate/Stop Distance: 3,600 ft
Rate of Climb (Sea Level): 1,601 fpm
Single-Engine Best Rate of Climb: 307 fpm
Max. Level Speed @ 23,000 ft: 246 kt
Cruise Speed/Range w/ 45-min. Reserve: 240 kt/1068 nm @ 26,000 ft (79% power); 222 kt/927 nm @ 16,000 ft (79% power)
Max. Operating Ceiling: 30,000 ft (15,100 Single-Engine)
Landing Distance (50-ft Obstacle): 3,065 ft
Landing Distance (Ground Roll): 1,318 ft
Vfe (Max. Flap Extended): 174 KIAS (15°); 140 KIAS (30°)
Va (Max. Maneuvering): 160 KIAS
Vle (Max. Gear Extended): 174 KIAS
Vlo (Max. Gear Operating): 174 KIAS
Vno (Max. Structural Cruising): 207 KIAS
Vne (Never Exceed): 233 KIAS
Vr (Rotation): 85 KIAS
Vs1/Vso (Stall Speed Clean/Dirty): 81 KIAS/73 KIAS