The Raisbeck Wing Fall/Winter 2008 Volume 8, Number 4 Editor: Anne Lockemy

TECH TIPS: 10,500 GWI for C90s, p2 Performance fit for a King, p3 Employee Profiles, p4

CEO’s Message Why in the world is our business so good?

n this world of downward-sliding new ments may be putting off their purchase of Iand used aircraft sales, one would expect new and/or more expensive aircraft in - or a corresponding shrinking of the mainte- der to save on their budgets, they neverthe- nance and fuel sales. Fuel yes, maintenance less still would like improved operational maybe not. flexibility and economy from their existing Here at Raisbeck Engineering, we fleets, if they can find it. And, if they are to have come off a record year in sales of our operate at a level anywhere near their needs, performance they will have improvement It should come as no surprise that to maintain systems. In our fuel-saving, range-increasing these aircraft fact, even this performance systems are in demand. in a safe and November and p a s s e n g e r - December have been record-breakers for us. pleasing condition. James D. Raisbeck, CEO Why, I asked of our marketing team. Third – While their airplanes are The answer I got back, after some explana- down for required maintenance, operators new King Airs prior to delivery to their first tion, made sense. I’d like to share it with find it a good time to update and upgrade owner, and retrofitted on 282 King Airs and you. them with the most cost-effective items at our installation centers world- First – Regardless of the economy, available. wide. most corporate folks still need the flexibility So, it should come as no surprise that We are humbled and at the same time and on-demand capabilities of the airplanes our fuel-saving, speed-increasing, range- grateful that our acceptance into the busi- they bought in the first place. They have long extending performance systems such as our ness, corporate, and personal fleets is also relied on such capability to be competitive EPICs for King Airs, and ZR LITE Systems expanding at this time. and timely in their marketplace. So, in most for Learjets are in popular demand. instances the corporate flight department And they are. Our 2008 deliveries may be the last to go, not the first. world-wide have totaled 547 Raisbeck Sys- Second – While these flight depart- tems of various types, installed on over 100 Leaner, meaner

he century mark is quickly approaching. One year ago today, Rais- design and development, first as a retrofit on the Learjet 23/24/25. Gates Tbeck announced the sale of the Learjet then introduced this technol- nd 52 ZR LITE installation on the Lear- The ZR LITE Performance System is ogy in 1976 on the Lear 35/36 as the jet 30 series. Projecting the 100th ZR Century III Wing. Raisbeck didn’t taking the Learjet by storm. LITE sale in the first quarter of 2009, miss a beat and re-engineered the it’s astonishing how quickly custom- Century III Wing to further reduce ers responded to the Performance System that is taking the Learjet by the takeoff and approach speeds. Thus, in 1979, the Raisbeck Mark IV storm. Here’s how: Wing was certified. The factory developed their own version known as Raisbeck is no stranger to the most popular on the plan- the Softflight Wing, entering into service in 1980. et. In 1975, the Raisbeck Mark II Wing was certified, after three years of Continued on page 2 ➥ Tech Tips Beechcraft C90 series — How to get your new 10,500 lb gross weight capability My King Air C90 has Dual Aft Body The addition of two 10-pound wing In keeping with its long standing tra- Q Strakes and Quiet Turbofan Propel- weights may be required, depending on the dition, Raisbeck Engineering continues to lers. Does it qualify for Raisbeck’s new 10,500 serial number of the aircraft. Presently, the support our owners who already have a pound GWI? If so, how do I get it? weights are mounted to the bottom of the Raisbeck EPIC-equipped C90 by offering outboard wings. They are bullet-shaped for this GWI at no cost. The Service Bulletin If you operate a C90/C90A/C90GT aerodynamics and finished in gloss white Kit is provided free of charge. The customer A which is already Raisbeck EPIC- paint. The purpose of the weights is to off- is responsible for its installation, and the equipped with Quiet Turbofan Propellers set the bending moment on the wings cre- 10,500 lb capability is included with the and Dual Aft Body Strakes, it also includes ated by the additional lift needed to support purchase price of our EPIC package to new our GWI to 10,100 lbs or 10,350 lbs. This the increased weight in flight. In addition customers. qualifies you for our 10,500 lb GWI, pro- to the Service Bulletin Kit that includes the We are currently contacting existing vided that the customers con- airplane is pow- cerning the 10,500 If you’re already EPIC-equipped, our new Gross Weight ered by PT6A‑21 lb GWI and ship- Increase to 10,500 lbs is free to you. If you are about to or PT6A‑135A ping the Service Raisbeck-equip with our EPIC, the new GWI is included. engines. Aircraft Bulletin or Service equipped with Letter as required. PT6A-135A engines installed under Black- weights, you will also receive a new Airplane Existing customers can also contact Rais- hawk or Silverhawk STC are also certified Flight Manual Supplement (AFMS), as part beck Technical Support to receive the GWI. for the GWI. Ten-ply tires are a must, and of our Service Bulletin. All of the necessary Aaron is waiting.  required to operate over 10,100 lbs. mounting hardware and instruction are also The aircraft’s zero fuel weight is also included in the kit. We are currently certify- E-mail technical questions to aaron@ increased to 9,000 pounds, removing any ing the two wings weights to be installed on raisbeck.com, or call Aaron Jo‑Nes at operational loading restrictions. And, the the inside of the wings of the aircraft, rather (206) 723-2000, (800) 537‑7277, or great news is, all wing fuel loading restric- than the outside. This design will be imple- try his cell 24/7 at (206) 427-5851. tions have been removed. mented in the first quarter of 2009.

Leaner, meaner Learjet Continued from Page 1 range to the rest of the Learjet family. It was on this Softflight Wing that theZR LITE Performance Sys- The Raisbeck-engineered Aft Fuselage Locker, certified in 1995, tem was conceived. With the progression of composite technology is an optional addition to all 30 series aircraft. in full-swing, Raisbeck revisited the aerodynamics of the Softflight As they say, history has a way of repeating itself.  Wing in 2002, recertifying it in 2005. ZR LITE technology for the /36 contains three main components: a re-contoured trailing edge flap, the Raisbeck signa- ture horizontal winglet — fondly referred to as the “Batwing”— and the Leading Edge Vortilons. ZR LITE technology for the includes the re-contoured trailing edge flap. That is the how. Here is the why: Upon installation of the ZR LITE Performance System, the 30 series Learjet undergoes a trans- formation similar to the Incredible Hulk. The aircraft becomes trans- formed. Twenty-five percent less time-to-climb. Four thousand feet higher initial cruise altitude. Five to ten percent increase in range! Eight to fourteen percent reduction in fuel burn. These are just a few ZR LITE-equipped Learjet 35 of the benefits. And, we are in the process of extending our product Performance fit for a King—and a customer who made a difference

Reported by: Anne Lockemy And business is good. Perhaps it’s the dedication the entire Raisbeck team puts forth awker Beechcraft (HBC) has dedicated decades to producing toward each and every customer. Customer and Technical Support is Hone of the world’s most venerable workhorse aircraft, the King and has always been the backbone of our organization. See the back page for a profile on our two team members, Bill Lally, Director of Cus- tomer Support, and Aaron Jo-Nes, Technical Support Manager. “Ben is very pleased with the increased performance Raisbeck adds to the aircraft,” commented Anne. “We both enjoyed a quiet cockpit* and a smooth ride from beginning to end. Ben is looking forward to utilizing the increased gross weight by adding additional passengers, luggage and business supplies on future missions.” Ben also commented, “Our company recently installed the Quiet Turbofan Propeller system with the new gross weight increase kit to 10,500 lbs. We have enjoyed the benefits from the new props. Im- mediately, I noticed the airplane taxi slower in ground fine, thereby minimizing the use of brakes. Landing distances are shorter when using the props to decelerate. In addition, we have gained three to four knots of true airspeed while in cruise at the higher altitudes. Ben Kester stores his aircraft gear in “Perhaps the biggest benefit the spacious Crown Wing Lockers. to our flight operation is the new Air, and Raisbeck has dedicated gross weight increase limit. This an equal amount of time improv- provision has allowed me to carry ing its performance. an additional passenger or another The process of innovation in- side the Raisbeck walls is highly disciplined, and the same stan- Kester’s C90B is ready to perform with the increased gross dards are held to each product weight of 10,500 lbs. that goes into design. Before an ‘idea’ is able to translate into a tangible performance system, the de- half hour of fuel on sign contributions are measured against six areas of aircraft produc- board where I would tivity: payload, range, block speed, operational flexibility, cost and, of not have been able course, style. to otherwise. In mid-2008, we were introduced to Ben Kester, Chief Pilot of “I am proud to a King Air C90B, who was interested in our full EPIC coupled with fly this exceptional Blackhawk’s PT6A-135 engines. King Air. These Rais- The Raisbeck installation was put on-hold, due to our previous beck modifications increased gross weight of 10,350 lbs carrying a low zero fuel weight, have made this great requiring the wing tanks to be full for operation about 10,100lbs. airplane better.” Upon hearing this, Raisbeck did what Raisbeck does best: we The King Air is the single most suc- cessful turboprop The King goes as far as he may, not as far as airplane in both he could. – Spanish Proverb numbers and safety. 93˝ Raisbeck/Hartzell Quiet Turbofan Although the air- Propellers deliver power…quietly. took our customer feedback and worked full-speed on certifying an frame design has been around for decades, it is forgiving, reliable, even higher gross weight…without wing fuel restrictions, and a zero comfortable and safe. Raisbeck offers more speed, opens thousands fuel weight of over 9000 lbs. of additional airports, and results in a quieter cockpit and cabin, quite Our increased gross weight to 10,500 lbs was certified in the fall, attractive benefits for today’s King Air owner/operator. Look for and Ben Kester became another satisfied Raisbeck customer soon after. more to come in 2009.  Ben is now enjoying the quiet of the 93˝ Raisbeck/Hartzell pro- *Decibel (dBA) measurements showed a quieter environment than pre- pellers along with their increased takeoff and climb performance. viously advertised. Raisbeck Employee Profile: Bill Lally and Aaron Jo-Nes

t’s 3 A.M. and the phone rings. Bill Lally is prepared to answer. to Raisbeck Engineering,” commented Craig Berkovitz of Hangar 4 IAs Director of Customer Support, Bill is finding solutions to both LLC. We agree with you, Craig! customer and dealer inquiries 24/7, but he doesn’t stop there. One Enter Aaron Jo‑Nes. Raisbeck (and Bill) were fortunate to have unique trait about Bill comes in the form of two words, although Aaron join the company last Spring, much to our customers’ and they can hardly our dealers’ delight. be defined in the Having previously length of this ar- held positions as an ticle: “follow-up.” airframe and pow- After hanging up erplant mechanic, the phone with a Aaron’s expertise satisfied customer, and knowledge pro- he follows up with pelled him to his them shortly after current position as to ensure they are Technical Support completely taken Manager. Operat- care of. His com- ing under his own mitment to satis- work ethic of ‘get ‘er faction isn’t biased. done,’ those inside “I try to give 100 the walls of Rais- percent devotion beck might know and service to each Aaron as a blurred and every person object moving I talk to. Actually, up and down the that’s not true. I halls. Constantly try to give 110 per- on the move, Aaron Bill Lally, Director of Customer Support Aaron Jo-Nes, Technical Support Manager cent,” he recently WILL NOT STOP remarked. With three decades of experience in the aviation industry, WORKING until a job is completed. and the majority of that time having direct and indirect contact with Don’t you wish there were more of these people in the world? customers, Bill operates under a consistent work ethic of doing the Always happy, we are sure that if you have a question that requires right thing. “I was always taught that the ‘airplane comes first,’” he Aaron’s assistance, you will hear his smile on the other end of the said. “I countered with the question of ‘who does the airplane belong line. Don’t believe us? Call him. Or Bill. Both are easily accessible and to? The customer. Therefore they are synonymous.’” more than happy to take any tech or customer service call. After all, “Bill’s attention to detail, get-it-done attitude, happy cheerful those are the traditions that founded this company, and they are what voice, and follow-through, are nothing less than a tremendous asset keep our customers coming back. 

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA Raisbeck Engineering, Inc. PERMIT No. 1097 4411 South Ryan Way Seattle, WA 98178 USA Intl. (206) 723-2000 Tel. (800) 537-7277 Fax (206) 723-2884 www.raisbeck.com