Hawker Beechcraft last month announced it received FAA and EASA type certification for the latest King Air variant in December. Equipped with a newly designed passenger interior styled after the company’s Premier 1A, the 350i
is now the quietest of the series, according to the airframer, with extensive soundproofing reducing cabin sound levels to an average of 78 dBA. Called the Serenity System, the interior, which floats on vibration-isolating absorbers, is sheathed in quarter-inch-thick skin dampening material and features dynamic sound absorbers.

The 350i is also the first business aircraft to use the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system, which supports multiple personal entertainment electronics such as laptop computers, DVD and Blu-ray players, iPods, gaming consoles and future HDMI devices.

The arrival of the turboprop twin marks the debut of Beech-craft’s new FlexCabin functionality, which allows users to easily reconfigure passenger seating from
the basic double-club-four layout to a more spacious pattern by removing seats. Among the 350i’s options is a vanity in the aft “midsize jet-type” lavatory complete with running water and automatic LED lighting, located next to the in-flight-accessible baggage area.

Unveiled at NBAA’s 2008 annual meeting and convention in Orlando, the aircraft made its first flight last September. It was granted FAA approval on December 10 and EASA certification the following week. The first aircraft were delivered to customers that month.