Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. Announces Higher Horsepower Upgrade for Cessna Caravan Floatplane Operators

Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. Announces Higher Horsepower Upgrade for Cessna Caravan Floatplane Operators

February 4, 2014 — Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. of Waco Texas and Wipaire, Inc. of South St. Paul, Minnesota announce FAA approval of the Blackhawk XP42A engine upgrade for operators of Cessna Model 208 and 208A Caravans on Wipline floats. This approval enables operators of these aircraft to install a new 850 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A turboprop engine in place of the standard 600 horsepower PT6A-114 engine or the 675 horsepower PT6A-114A
engines installed in these two models. Performance improvements are dramatic with the Blackhawk higher horsepower engine upgrade which greatly increases the versatility of the Caravan on floats.

“To a floatplane pilot, there is no such thing as too much horsepower,” explains Chris Dunkin, Blackhawk’s Chief Pilot. “Hot days, high altitudes, heavy loads, small lakes. When these conditions are encountered by Caravan floatplane operators, our engine upgrade makes them much easier to handle. When the lake is small and the trees are tall, that extra 175-250 horsepower really reduces the anxiety factor of getting up and away.”

“We are proud to add the Caravan floatplane to our growing family of higher horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine upgrades,” says Jim Allmon, Blackhawk’s President and CEO. “King Air, Conquest I and Cheyenne operators continue to enjoy the boost in aircraft performance offered by our new Pratt & Whitney engine upgrades. We are certain Cessna model 208 and 208A Caravan operators, whether on floats or not, will also enjoy the added capabilities of more horsepower offered by our new Pratt & Whitney engine upgrade”.

“We are pleased to see the approval of the Blackhawk new engine upgrade for our Caravan floatplane customers,” explains Bob Wiplinger, Wipaire’s CEO. “Over 200 Caravans around the world are equipped with Wipline floats. The added performance and versatility of the Blackhawk engine horsepower upgrade should be well received by our customers and we hope they enjoy flying it as much as we have.”

Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. of Waco, Texas is celebrating its 15th year of operation in 2014. It will also see its 500th engine conversion completed this year. Blackhawk offers aircraft owners and pilots the ability to install new Pratt & Whitney engines with improved hot and high altitude horsepower output, significantly improving cruise speeds and rates of climb. New Pratt & Whitney engines approved by Blackhawk supplemental type certificates can be installed in most Beechcraft King Air 90 and 200 models, Piper Cheyenne I and II models, the Cessna Model 425 Conquest I and now the Cessna Model 208A and 208B Caravan models. For further
information, contact Blackhawk Modifications, 7601 Karl May Drive, Waco, Texas, 76708. Phone 254-755-6711, website www.blackhawk.aero, inquiries info@blackhawk.aero. For further press information, contact Abbey Thomas at Blackhawk.