Dutch King Air operator Zeusch Aviation has partnered with Dovetail Electric Aviation to jointly work on the development of hybrid-electric retrofits for the Beechcraft King Air, one of the most versatile and widely used twin turboprops in commercial and special-mission aviation.

The agreement, formalised at the Paris Air Show 2025, outlines a strategic collaboration to assess the technical and commercial viability of converting part of Zeusch's King Air fleet using Dovetail's proprietary battery and electric propulsion technologies, to be integrated with a turbogenerator working as a range extender. The goal is to enable longer range flights while reducing emissions and lowering operating costs for passengers and others, and support mission-critical operations such as medical flights, aerial mapping, surveillance and other special missions.

Under the partnership, Dovetail will work towards the integration of its DovePack aviation battery system and DovePower electric propulsion system with range-extending turbogenerators into the King Air platform, with Zeusch's requirements in mind. The hybrid-electric configuration under development is based on a series architecture, allowing for flexible mission performance while significantly improving sustainability metrics, including a very low noise profile.

The DovePack and DovePower combination should reduce the carbon footprint by up to 40 per cent compared to the current turbine engines. Additionally, the noise footprint under full electric power is expected to be up to 30 per cent lower.

David Doral, Dovetail Electric Aviation's CEO states: “Our electric drivetrain, including our highly innovative battery technology (DovePack) and proprietary electric propulsion system (DovePower), has the potential to deliver the range required for many conventional missions while achieving superior economics with additional benefits. The ability to operate in only electric mode will be a key differentiator for some special missions where a low noise profile is a critical element. Zeusch's input and collaboration will help us optimise the platform for multiple real-life missions.”

Under this agreement, Zeusch could become one of the first operators globally to adopt certified hybrid-electric King Air conversions. Danny van Ieperen, Zeusch Aviation's technical director, notes: “Zeusch Aviation mainly operates missions that are for the common good, like transplant, medical repatriation, survey and television broadcasting flights. It is our ambition to do this as environmentally friendly as possible. Dovetail Electric Aviation's ambition to install a hybrid-electric power source on our King Air aircraft fits this ambition.”

This announcement adds to Dovetail's growing list of strategic partnerships and future adopters aimed at accelerating the certification and commercialisation of electric propulsion systems for regional aviation.