Blackhawk Modifications has gotten the FAA seal of approval for its Pratt & Whitney Canada engine upgrade program. The STC swaps out the 675-hp Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-114A for the 850-shp PT6A-42A, an increase of 26 percent. The mod gives operators an increase in takeoff work of 4 percent, 20 percent shorter takeoff performance, and a 15 percent faster cruise speed.
Within days of the certification, Blackhawk had logged 17 orders; the company expected a great deal of interest at Oshkosh.
Blackhawk president Jim Allmon expected the market to be good for the mod for special mission applications and for use in remote operations. “Caravan operators will now have the power they need to take off from the most remote corners of the world, or even their local airports with greater overall safety margins.”
