Production TPE331 Delivered for Re-engined Caravan

Honeywell has delivered the first production TPE331-12JR-701S turboprop powerplant to Aero Twin in Anchorage, Alaska, for its “850 Caravan” re-engine modification program. The 850-shp engine, certified last September, will replace the original 675-shp P&WC PT6 on the big Cessna single. Aero Twin expects to receive an STC for the conversion this spring. Preliminary performance numbers indicate a runway takeoff distance of 1,000 feet and a water takeoff run of 12 to 14 seconds (compared with nearly 28 seconds using the original powerplant). Aero Twin president Tony Cestnik expects operators to see up to a 12-pph decrease in fuel burn. The approximately $675,000 installed price includes a four-blade Hartzell heavy-duty propeller.