Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) plans to bring the Grumman Albatross amphibious twin back into production and has selected the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-67F turboprop engine for its modernized version, the G-111T. Grumman produced 466 of the amphibious airplanes, powered by two nine-cylinder Wright Cyclone radial engines, between 1949 and 1966. AAI intends to restart production of the modernized G-111T, which will also have a glass cockpit, at its home base in Sydney, Australia,
“We are delighted to be playing a role in the modernization of the G-111T aircraft, which has such an illustrious history,” said P&WC v-p of general aviation Nicholas Kanellias. “The PT6A-67F engines, each with 1,700 shp, will provide the G-111T with superior performance, greater range, and…reliability and dependability.”
According to AAI chairman Khoa Hoang, the G-111T will be the only new-production, large transport-category amphibious aircraft for passenger, cargo, and utility missions. “Because of its ability to land and take off from both land and water, the G-111T is ideal for use in inland rivers, ocean rescue, mountainous terrain, and tropic river basins,” he said.
AAI, which bought the type certificate for the Albatross in May 2016, is pitching four G-111T versions: combi passenger/cargo; medevac; aeromedical; and search and rescue.