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| King Radio | |
|---|---|
| Name | King Radio |
| Manufacturer | Teledyne Technologies/BendixKing |
| Introduced | 1961 |
| Discontinued | 1990s |
| Type | avionics |
| Country | United States |
King Radio King Radio was a prominent brand of general aviation avionics, widely used in General Aviation and Business Aviation from the 1960s through the 1990s. Developed originally by William F. King's company and later manufactured by King Radio Corporation before acquisitions by Bendix Corporation and Honeywell International, the product family included communications, navigation, and audio systems installed in thousands of Cessna and Piper aircraft, among others. Its devices played significant roles alongside contemporaries such as Garmin, Collins Radio Company, Rockwell Collins, and RCA in shaping cockpit avionics standards.
King Radio Corporation was founded in the late 1950s by William F. King in Kansas, entering a market dominated by firms such as Collins Radio Company and Becker. The company first achieved prominence with audio and navcom units that provided affordable alternatives to incumbent manufacturers, appealing to operators of Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, and Beechcraft Bonanza. In 1961 King introduced the early transceivers that competed with products from RCA and Garmin's later entrants; growth accelerated through the 1960s and 1970s as general aviation expanded in the United States and internationally to markets like Canada and Australia. In the 1980s King was acquired by Lear Siegler and subsequently the avionics product line passed through Bendix Corporation into the Honeywell International portfolio, with legacy models maintained under the BendixKing marque. Regulatory interactions with agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration influenced certification and upgrades across decades.
King Radio products encompassed VHF communications, VOR/LOC receivers, glideslope components, and audio panels. Typical VHF transceivers operated on the 118–136 MHz band using crystal-controlled or synthesized frequency selection; models featured channel spacing compatible with International Civil Aviation Organization and Federal Communications Commission allocations. Navigation receivers conformed to VHF omnidirectional range and Instrument Landing System signal standards and interfaced with cockpit indicators from manufacturers like Garmin and Honeywell. Power consumption and weight metrics were tailored for light aircraft electrical systems used by Cessna and Piper, providing standardized 14V or 28V DC options compatible with Lycoming and Continental Motors installations. Audio panels offered intercom functions, speaker prioritization, and marker beacon decoding for approaches standardized by ICAO and FAA procedures.
King's model lineup included iconic units such as early KX series transceivers, KR navigation receivers, KY audio panels, and KT transponders. Notable examples include the KX 170B communications/navigation combination, the KR 87 VOR/LOC receiver, the KT 76A and KT 76C transponders used extensively in airspace compliance, and the KMA 24 audio panel favored in retrofit installations for Cessna 182 and Piper PA-28 conversions. The KNS series offered integrated GPS/COM/NAV solutions introduced as satellite navigation matured alongside products from Garmin and Rockwell Collins. Accessories and upgrade kits allowed retrofitting older airframes with squawk-capable transponders meeting Mode C and later Mode S interoperability requirements. Military and governmental variants were less common but paralleled civilian models used by small governmental flight departments and training organizations such as Civil Air Patrol.
King avionics were installed in flight schools, corporate fleets, private owner-operated aircraft, and small charter operators. Training organizations including Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and FlightSafety International used aircraft equipped with King radios for instrument instruction and cross-country navigation practice. Regional flight departments for companies like United Parcel Service (small contracts) and utility operators operated aircraft retrofitted with King transceivers for communications redundancy. International adoption extended to flight schools and small airlines in Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Europe where affordability and parts support made King products attractive. Maintenance facilities and avionics shops such as Aero-Craft and L3Harris Technologies-affiliated service centers conducted STC installs and periodic overhauls to keep units compliant with FAA airworthiness directives.
King Radio influenced avionics affordability, aftermarket upgrade culture, and cockpit ergonomics for light aircraft. Its ease of installation and parts availability fostered a robust secondary market; surviving KX, KR, KT, and KMA units remain common in vintage restorations and economical retrofit projects. King’s design philosophies informed subsequent products from Garmin, Aspen Avionics, and Dynon Avionics that emphasize integration, reliability, and user-friendly panels. Collectors and museums preserving general aviation history, including exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum and regional aviation museums, often display aircraft fitted with King equipment to illustrate the evolution of cockpit technology. The BendixKing legacy continues under Honeywell International stewardship, with replacement pathways and STCs bridging classic King hardware to modern glass cockpit retrofits.
Category:Avionics Category:General aviation