Beechcraft Super King Air 200 VH-FII


This Beechcraft Super King Air 200 (c/n BB-653) is operated on airways flight inspection duties by Pearl Aviation for AeroPearl, on contract to Airservices Australia. AeroPearl is a partnership between Pearl Aviation and Aerodata GmBH, manufacturers of the flight inspection equipment.

The aircraft itself was manufactured in 1980 and initially registered in the USA as N67224. However, it was exported to Australia new and registered VH-MXK on 14 May 1980. The aircraft was acquired by Pearl Aviation and re-registered VH-FII on 30 July 2001. It was subsequently fitted with the AD-FIS-8 flight survey equipment removed from Airservices Australia Astra VH-FIS, which it then replaced. VH-FII uses the distinctive callsign 'Auscal 1'.

The photo above shows VH-FII at Melbourne/Essendon on 1 June 2010. It carries titles for the 'Flight Inspection Alliance', an international marketing alliance for flight inspection services. The photo below shows VH-FII, also at Essendon, on 28 February 2005, immediately prior to a sortie to inspect the Essendon ILS. On the apron beneath the aircraft lies the aircraft's laser reflector, shown in close-up in the bottom photo mounted on the aircraft's belly.

For calibration of precision navaids, such as ILS, a Laser Tracker is used to provide more accurate tracking of the aircraft's flight path than the on-board precision GPS is able to manage. The Laser Tracker detects the laser energy returned from the reflector mounted on the aircraft. Since the reflector generates an appreciable amount of drag, it is only mounted on the aircraft for sorties requiring use of the Laser Tracker.

 

 


(Photos: Top-Gordon Reid; Middle & Bottom-Phil Vabre)

Back to Departmental Aircraft index page

 

If this page is displayed without menu bars at top and left, click here