McCauley Celebrates Certification for King Air Props

The aluminum four-blade McCauley prop system gained type certification in July and entered into service in mid-September. [Courtesy of Textron Aviation]

In the midst of marking its 85th year serving the aviation industry, McCauley Propeller Systems celebrates an important milestone. The division of Textron Aviation announced the first delivery and entry into service of the C780 propeller on the Beechcraft King Air B300 series—bringing the twin turboprop’s means of propulsion “into the family.”

The option joins McCauley props available on the B200, as well as B300 choices from Hartzell, MT Propeller, and others.

The 105-inch-diameter, four-blade aluminum, swept-blade prop system achieved type certification in July.

At a media briefing on Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, the Textron Aviation team expressed its enthusiasm for McCauley’s achievement, likening it to the type certification of a new aircraft model for either of its aircraft brands, Cessna, Beechcraft, or Bell.

“The new McCauley C780 offers King Air customers increased performance, a quieter cabin, and greater efficiency,” Heidi McNary, vice president and general manager of McCauley Propeller Systems, said in a statement. “For 85 years, McCauley has been committed to delivering creative solutions and driving customers forward with their pioneering designs and strategies. We look forward to continuing to support the future of flight and legendary aircraft like the Beechcraft King Air.”

The first installation went on a King Air 350 owned by ExecuJet Charter Service in Florida, a private Part 135 charter operator. Interested owners can seek out the installation at Textron Aviation Service Centers or authorized McCauley service facilities.

Prop Stats

The C780 props for the King Air B300 include the following features and benefits, according to Textron Aviation:

Propeller weight savings of more than 50 pounds
Increased takeoff and climb performance
Reduced noise in the cabin and cockpit
Extended time between overhauls (TBOs) of 5,000 hours or 72 months
Textron Aviation’s 4,000 hours or 36-month limited propeller warranty

The King Air 360, which debuted in 2021, retained the four-blade Hartzell props from the 350.

B300 Beechcraft King Air King Air 300 McCauley propeller props Textron Aviation turboprop Turboprops

Julie BoatmanEditor

Based in Maryland, Julie is an editor, aviation educator, and author. She holds an airline transport pilot certificate with Douglas DC-3 and CE510 (Citation Mustang) type ratings. She's a CFI/CFII since 1993, specializing in advanced aircraft and flight instructor development. Follow Julie on Twitter @julieinthesky.