Raytheon Aircraft Company Hosts Duke Flyers Association

Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) will host this year’s Duke Flyers Association Annual Fly-In, Sept.15 – 17.

“We are expecting thirty Duke’s to descend upon Beech Field over the next few days,” said Randy Groom, Beechcraft’s president and general manager.

“The Duke Flyers Association and Beechcraft have enjoyed a close connection since the first Duke was delivered in 1968. With over 300 members, the Duke Flyers Association and its members hold this event annually at venues across the U.S.”

The Model 60 Beechcraft Duke, a pressurized six-place, turbo-charged twin, completed its first flight on Dec. 29, 1966 and went into production in 1968. Between the Baron and the Queen Air in size, the Duke had a gross weight of 6,400 pounds in size and was powered by 380hp Lycoming engines. Three derivative models were manufactured between 1968 and 1982 in Salina, Kansas – the A60 with engine upgrades, the B60 featuring a wider, longer cabin, redesigned seats and later a lightweight AiResearch pressurization system was added. The final improvement came in 1976 when Duke owners were offered wet-cell wingtip fuel tanks holding 30 gallons extending the range to 1,287 statute miles at 65% power setting. The Duke production line ended in 1982. Of the 593 Dukes delivered, 411 are still in service today in North America.

“We are thrilled and honored to be hosting this year’s fly-in and look forward to seeing 30 of these very special aircraft lined up on the runway,” Groom said.