Tennessee Governor Bill HaslamNASHVILLE, Tenn. - The governor has a new set of wings with the purchase of a used Beech King Air turboprop airplane.
WTVF-TV reported the state paid $4 million for the craft in December. It's now the lead plane in a fleet operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
While other state officials may fly on it, state chief pilot Lyle Monroe says Gov. Bill Haslam has first priority for the plane's use.
Monroe said the 2007 King Air 350 has more powerful and more fuel-efficient engines than the 1985 King Air that Tennessee governors have been using.