Blackhawk Aerospace has started Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification flight testing for their new Pilatus PC-12 XP67P Engine+ Upgrade program.
Blackhawk’s upgrade replaces the stock Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-67B engine with a higher-powered and more efficient PT6A-67P model. The Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval is expected early in 2023 with EASA certification shortly thereafter.
According to Blackhawk, the XP67P engine technology utilizes improved metallurgy which allows a higher Internal Turbine Temperature (ITT) limitation of 850°C compared to the stock -67B’s 800°C limitation for takeoff. More impressively, maximum continuous ITT for climb and cruise is 760°C for the -67B and 820°C for the XP67P. Further, the PT6A-67P is a 1200 shaft horsepower (SHP) engine that produces 142 more thermodynamic horsepower than the stock -67B. The combination of the higher ITT and increased thermodynamic horsepower produced by the XP67P engine enables operators to utilize full torque to more efficient cruising altitudes. On an ISA day, the stock -67B starts losing power at 15,000 feet, whereas the XP67P can maintain full power to FL250.
“Blackhawk is excited to kick off certification testing for the XP67P program and bring the conversion one step closer to reality for PC-12 operators,” said Jim Allmon, Blackhawk’s President and CEO. “This is a new market for us that fits naturally into our existing roster of aircraft, and we look forward to delivering this upgrade to Pilatus operators soon.”
As eligible PC-12s near an overhaul event, this is the optimum opportunity to upgrade to a new engine, bringing these early-model aircraft up to PC-12NG factory standards. Operators will receive a core engine credit of $95 per hour for time remaining to the factory TBO, if upgrading before overhaul.
Blackhawk’s STC will include a factory-new P&WC PT6A-67P engine and will be approved with the existing Hartzell four-blade aluminum propeller to minimize the retail cost. Blackhawk plans to certify additional propeller options in the future to provide operators modularity in the upgrade package.
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