Blackhawk Unveils King Air 350ER Engine Upgrade Program

Blackhawk and its Vector-Hawk Aerospace (VHA) military sales division have teamed with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to offer the Blackhawk XP67A engine upgrade STC kit for the King Air 350ER at 16,500 pounds and 17,500 pounds mtow, and plan to have aircraft ready for customers within a year.

Developed specifically for military and government operations, the modification will include two new Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-67A engines, new MT five-bladed composite propellers and spinners and a True Blue Power lithium-ion battery. Training, support and a five-year/2,500-hour enhanced new-engine warranty are included.

"The 67A 350ER test program is under way," with several flights completed, Blackhawk president and CEO Jim Allmon said during a press briefing on Momnday at NBAA 2017. "So far, everything is looking good. We figure we'll be able to deliver this to customers in first-quarter 2018." Blackhawk has "several" orders for the 350ER upgrade, Allmon said.

About 185 Model 350ERs are flying, Blackhawk said. While most of them are with government and military special-missions operators, Allmon said he is talking with several commercial 350ER customers.

The XP67A will provide a 25 percent to 30 percent power increase; a 400 thermodynamic shp over the stock PT6A-60A engines; and better climb, cruise and high/hot performance, while reducing overall aircraft weight by 18 pounds. SNC will have exclusive distribution rights to the special mission market in the U.S and most government/military foreign markets for aircraft weighing 16,500 pounds and up. The company will also complete the installations at its network and authorized facilities.

News of the 350ER program comes on the heels of August's FAA approval of Blackhawk's XP67A upgrade program for the legacy King Air 350. The company has nine deposits with contracts for that program, which earned an FAA STC in 14 months. Future enhancements include approval for Hartzell composite propellers, Allmon said. The STC covers MT propellers.

Meanwhile, Blackhawk Modifications (Booth C7330) is offering discounts on its PT6 engine upgrade programs through October 31, including the XP135A by $80,000, the XP52 and XP61 by $130,000 and the new XP67A by $100,000. The programs—available for Cessna Conquest, Cheyenne and Caravan and Beechcraft King Airs—result in higher horsepower, faster climb and cruise speeds and reduced annual operating costs.