Duke

About the Duke

The Beechcraft Duke is an American twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft designed for corporate transport and private ownership. It suits executive travelers and professional pilots looking for pressurized cabin comfort combined with twin-engine performance. The aircraft features a low-wing configuration, retractable tricycle landing gear, and an enclosed cabin accessed via a rear airstair door, driven by two turbocharged six-cylinder piston engines. Development began in the mid-sixties to bridge the gap between existing company models, leading to the prototype's maiden flight in late 1966. Although production concluded years later due to maintenance complexity, numerous examples continue operating globally in private and governmental fleets.