Blackhawk expects orders to climb; Reservations to be taken at NBAA
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified its powerful 867 horsepower XP140 new-engine upgrade for Cessna 208A and 208B Caravans.
Work is already under way filling more than a dozen orders and reservations that already have been received. Engine upgrade experts will be available to answer questions and take orders at the Blackhawk exhibit (No. C12012) Nov. 17-19 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“FAA certification now allows Blackhawk to quickly install this extremely cost-effective system that is going to take operators above and beyond their current capabilities,” said Jim Allmon, Blackhawk Modifications President and CEO. “The system allows operators to retain many components from their original -114/-114A engines while boosting performance at the same time.”
The more powerful PT6A-140 engine provides up to a 44 percent increase in available horsepower over a stock aircraft and is designed to replace the original 600/675 horsepower engine in non-G1000 equipped Caravans.
With deliveries already under way and upgrade slots filling up quickly, Allmon urged operators to make a reservation to ensure they have a confirmed delivery schedule over the next several months.
Two of the first orders are from Wipaire, a leading aircraft float manufacturer and supplier of related equipment for the aviation float community.
“The Caravan has needed a seamless engine upgrade like the PT6A-140 for a long time,” said Bob Wiplinger, owner of Wipaire. “Blackhawk’s hot rod engine upgrade delivers impressive results for operators who have or are considering our Wipline floats. When I climbed to 2000 feet above the ground by the end of a 4000 foot runway, I was convinced that this engine is just what the Caravan needs.”
Wipaire expanded their float certification to show compatibility of the Blackhawk XP140 on the Short body Caravan with Wipline 8000 or 8750 floats and the Grand Caravan with 8750 floats.
Worldwide certification efforts are now underway.
