THE RAISBECK WING

Summer 2001 Volume 9, Number 2 Editor, Rob Richardson Airs and Learjets. But was CEO’s Message the first—he led the pack. Time Marches On Long ago, I took a small team to Rockingham, (“The Rock”) to film Dale and his Raisbeck-equipped King Air 200 after Sunday’s NASCAR race. His pilot, Mike Colyer, graciously performed short field take-offs and landings over the cows in the pasture immediately off the far end of the drag strip there, which served as their airport. It was then the biggest airplane by far that James D. Raisbeck CEO, Raisbeck Engineering could safely operate there. After winning the race, Dale talked to us on camera at his small shop in it. Dale Earnhardt was a true friend, Dale Earnhardt Mooresville with some wonderful and supporter and believer in our work, as we insightful comments about the Raisbeck are in his. He was the first. There are others in Systems on his King Air 200 and how Goodbye, Dale, and happy landings NASCAR who have followed: Rusty much he appreciated them. up there. Wallace, , , Darryl Those King Air shots and his and , Ward Burton, Ricky interview are still part of our 15 minute Rudd, and Robert Pressley, to name a promotional video. I suppose I’ll have to few. All flying Raisbeck-equipped King pull that section sometime. I’ll hate to do Raisbeck Wing Lockers for New Production 350s Soon To Be Offered As Optional OEM Equipment Raytheon Aircraft has signed an was originally received in 1985. Capable on the heels of its addition of Raisbeck’s agreement with Raisbeck Engineering to of carrying 300 pounds of baggage per Dual Aft Body Strakes as standard offer a production-line version of Raisbeck side, the 16 cubic feet of stowage space equipment on the new 350s. Steve Young, Nacelle Wing Lockers as optional Director of the King Air and Piston Aircraft equipment on all new 350 King Airs. Business Unit for Raytheon Aircraft Raisbeck has already shipped the first commented, “The Raisbeck Wing Lockers shipset and its engineers are working with provide added baggage and storage, Raytheon to integrate the product into the providing greater cabin space for 350 production line, beginning mid-year. passengers. This is a natural factory option Raisbeck Engineering has extended the for the Super King Air 350 and we are Wing Locker Skirts forward to the firewall, delighted to be able to offer it to our new aircraft customers. Since so many This is a natural factory option customers are buying them anyway, this for the Super King Air 350... factory option reduces their completion Raisbeck Nacelle Wing Lockers have been time.” making for a seamless installation. This redesigned and will soon be offered by Raytheon James D. Raisbeck, CEO, added, “We as optional equipment for all new King Air 350s. eliminates the extra attach-line on the are pleased Raytheon will be offering Wing nacelle, significantly enhancing the Lockers as optional equipment for their cosmetic appearance of the Wing provides increased loading flexibility and new 350 customers. They only enhance Lockers. The change, approved by the opens up cabin space. To date, almost what is already a great aircraft. The crew FAA, is now also available for retrofit on 500 sets of Wing Lockers have been can now stow their luggage and airplane- existing models of the B-200, 300 and 350 installed on in-service King Airs by related equipment, returning the cabin King Air. Raytheon and other Service Centers. back to the passengers.” FAA certification for the Wing Lockers The move by Raytheon follows closely Raisbeck Meets The Press Outstanding James Raisbeck Meets With Flying, B&CA, and Aviation Operators Maintenance

James Raisbeck started off the new year with a media tour to the east coast. First Since buying out the assets of Valley stop was Flying Magazine and a six-hour meeting with editor J. Mac McClellan. Mac Air Services, Andrew Button, 31, has put was interested in the technical descriptions of all Raisbeck Systems available for the Heritage Flight in the expansion mode. King Air line. To His success is reflected in the fact that emphasize the impact of Heritage Flight is now the fastest growing the Systems, Mac was company in the State of Vermont. Sales taken aloft in a Raisbeck- in the past four years have increased 350 equipped King Air flown by percent. Adam Barbor of Trakair. The following day, James spent the morning with three representatives of Business & Commercial Aviation: Publisher Gil Wolin, Editor Bill Garvey and Maintenance Specialist Editor David James Raisbeck explains the benefits of the Raisbeck Benoff. These gentlemen Enhancement Package on a King Air B200 to Flying were then flown in a C-90 editor J. Mac McClellan. Andrew Button, president of Heritage Flight. provided by Chris Hill of Heritage Flight. Following According to Andrew, the charter flight the flight, James flew to operations at Heritage account for a Gaithersburg, MD to meet substantial portion of revenue and the two Matt Thurber, Editor of C-90 King Airs in their fleet are the leaders Aviation Maintenance. of the pack. Both of the C-90s are fully All three interviews equipped with Raisbeck Systems. were designed to Andrew leaves no doubt about his faith in familiarize the press with Raisbeck: “The King Airs account for a the benefits of Raisbeck large portion of our charter operations.” Systems. Look for the results of these encounters in future issues of each of these Tom Halvorson Departs fine magazines. After two decades of affiliation with Raisbeck Engineering, Tom Above: B&CA publisher Gil Wolin Halvorson has left Raisbeck to (left), James Raisbeck, editor Bill Garvey; Heritage pilot Chris Hill pursue other opportunities. Tom and writer David Benoff prepare Halvorson had been directly to go aloft in a Raisbeck- involved in the development and equipped King Air C90. promotion of Raisbeck’s King Air products since 1982. After taking over sales and marketing responsibilities in 1996, Tom worked closely with over 100 Raisbeck dealers worldwide. We wish to thank Tom for his innumerable contributions to Raisbeck Engineering’s success. We will miss him! Left: Matt Thurber (right), editor of Aviation Maintenance, learned A new team has been about Nacelle Wing Lockers assembled to assume Tom’s before taking a short cross responsibilities in sales. country flight. Heritage Flight Won’t Leave Home Without Raisbeck

Dual Aft Body Strakes enhance passenger comfort.

Both C90s at Heritage Flight are fully Raisbeck equipped.

“With their range and speed, C-90s increased baggage capacity. It’s the only Wing Lockers have proven very useful on are an ideal machine for our average way to go. Heritage flights. passenger load. And Raisbeck’s Wing “New England has a lot of small Lockers easily handle baggage airports and short runways that we couldn’t overages. What makes the competitive possibly consider using without Raisbeck. To his credit, Andrew has surrounded difference for us are these Raisbeck It’s a given that if we can’t deliver, someone himself with highly talented, loyal people Systems. They enhance climb, cruise else will. We’d never consider putting a who share his passion for success and speed and range, in addition to King Air on line without the benefits of service to customers. They make it look contributing to passenger comfort and Raisbeck…it just makes good sense.” easy.

Meet The Raisbeck Team Mel Johnson – Design Engineering Manager Mel Johnson has a degree in Raisbeck Engineering, Mel is working in Raisbeck Systems, Mel is a devoted family Mechanical Engineering, but he has an R&D capacity on a number of airline man to his wife, their two sons and spent most of his career focusing on programs for Raisbeck Commercial Air daughter. aeronautical issues. He joined Raisbeck Group. Engineering a little over a year ago and Prior to joining Raisbeck, Mel worked became part of Raisbeck’s special for Telair International, representing that Engineering Unit. Tasked with the company’s interests at Boeing. He development of new products, Mel acted introduced an STC cargo loading system as the principal liaison officer with to Boeing, handling all development and Raytheon, bringing Dual Aft Body Strakes stress analysis work. Earlier, while at to the King Air 350 production line. In that Composite Solutions Corporation, he role, Mel worked with Raytheon staff to designed and established manufacturing provide direction on integrating and procedures for composite components on installing the strakes in Raytheon’s aircraft, including a ram duct system for manufacturing process. the MD-11. Mel was also the driving force behind Because of his love of engineering, the redesign of the Wing Lockers for the it’s not uncommon for Mel to put in 60-hour 200, 300 and 350 King Airs. In addition weeks…he considers it his hobby as well to design projects and stress analysis for as his vocation. When not working on Mel Johnson An Extraordinary Raisbeck Dealer Winner Aviation Is More Than A Name Their rapidly expanding connection with the King Air line has led to a highly productive relationship with Raisbeck Engineering. “It was a natural compliment to our Service Center,” said Hale. “We’re completely sold on the benefits of Raisbeck Systems and we’re eager to pass those benefits on to our clients. Once an operator sees the light, he realizes that Raisbeck is like fax machines and cell phones. You can live without them, but why bother?” Now, that’s a winning attitude.

The name says it all for this Raisbeck Dealer.

Rick Hale got his start in aviation by employer, renaming it Winner Aviation. taking a part-time position at Beckett As full service operations go, Winner Aviation in Youngstown, Ohio. At the time, has gone there. They feature an interior Rick was pursuing an undergraduate shop, airframe/powerplant maintenance, degree in Aviation Administration with rapid response teams (for mechanical Embry-Riddle. He went to acquire a assistance anywhere), parts, avionics Masters in Business Administration while and line service. They are also a service continuing his work at Beckett. In 1995, center for Cessna, Twin Commander and Rick Hale runs a blue Rick put a program together to buy out his Raytheon Beech. ribbon operation.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID KALISPELL, MT PERMIT NO. 27

Raisbeck Engineering, Inc. 4411 South Ryan Way Seattle, WA 98178 Intl. 206-723-2000 Tel. 800-537-7277 Fax 206-723-2884 Website www.Raisbeck.com