Raytheon Airline Aviation Services is targeting Australia as a strong market for the Beechcraft 1900D in various roles as part of a worldwide tour of the company's Missionator demonstrator.

The Missionator is configured to illustrate the aircraft's ability to perform various roles, including executive, air ambulance, airline and cargo. The aircraft will circle Australia in a tour that starts in Broome, Western Australia on 21 September and concludes in Darwin in the Northern Territory on 7 October.

The tour, which will involve Perth-based leasing company Awesome Aviation, will include attendance at the Regional Aviation Association of Australia convention on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland at the end of September.

"Recognising the suitability for the Australian market, we placed a high priority on touring the country as part of our worldwide marketing efforts," says Skip Gallagher, vice-president sales. Raytheon says the aim is to "reintroduce" the 1900D to Australia, where there are 15 1900Cs and 1900Ds being flown in various roles, including charter/mining support, air ambulance/medical evacuation and scheduled airline operations.

The tour is an around the world event, heading east from Wichita to Europe, via the Middle East and Asia to Australia, and returning via Japan, Russia and Alaska.

Source: Flight International