Blackhawk Modifications Delivers Second XP42A Grand Caravan To Trans Guyana Airway

Blackhawk Modifications Delivers Second XP42A Grand Caravan To Trans Guyana Airway

OSHKOSH,  Wisc. – July  30,  2013 – Blackhawk  Modifications,  the  global  leader  in  the  design,  development  and  installation  of  performance  improvement  systems  for  single and  twin engine turboprop  aircraft, has  delivered  its  second  XP42A  Grand  Caravan  208B  upgrade  to  Trans  Guyana  Airways.

A  charter  and  scheduled  airline  based  in  Ogle,  East  Coast  Demerara,  Guyana,  Trans  Guyana  Airways  ordered  its  first  Grand  Caravan  XP42A  upgrade  in  August  2012.  The  air  carrier  flies  five  Grand  Caravans  and  three  other  twin engine  turboprop  aircraft.

Blackhawk’s  XP42A  upgrade,  which  has  achieved  certification  from  the  U.S.  FAA  and  the  European Aviation  Safety  Agency,  replaces  the  Grand  Caravan’s  675 shaft horsepower  (shp)  Pratt  &  Whitney Canada  PT6A­‐114A with  a  new  PT6A­‐42A  engine  with  a  continuous  power  rating  of  850  shp.  Combined with  a  factory  new,  100 inch diameter  Hartzell  propeller  with  four  wide chord  blades  and  other  elements,  the  XP42A  upgrade  enables  Grand  Caravan  operators  to  double  their  aircraft’s  rate  of  climb  while  using  less  fuel,  achieve  a  4  percent  increase  in  takeoff  weight  and  gain  a  more  than  15  percent  improvement  in  cruise  speed.

Those  and  other  performance  gains  allow  Grand  Caravans  upgraded  with  the  XP42A  modifications  to utilize  shorter  runways,  carry  more  passengers  and  cargo  and  generate  increased  revenue  while achieving  improved  safety  margins.

“The  greater  performance  offered  by  our  XP42A  upgrade  is  particularly  beneficial  for  Grand  Caravan operators  in  South  America,  where  the  fleet  is  large  and  the  operating  environments  can  be demanding,”  said  Jim  Allmon,  Blackhawk  President  and  CEO.  “The  Blackhawk  team  is  pleased  to  support Trans  Guyana  Airways  as  it  expands  the  capabilities  of  these  important  aircraft.”

Blackhawk  is  displaying  its  XP42A  upgrades  for  the  Grand  Caravan  208B  and  Caravan  208A  and  its  other products  and  services  for  turboprop powered  aircraft  during  EAA’s  Airventure  2013  here  through August  4. Blackhawk’s  exhibit  is  at  Booth  Number  358/359.

In  addition  to  the  new  engine  and propeller, the  XP42A  upgrade  includes  a  new,  autoclave-cured  carbon­‐fiber  composite cowling  and  high efficiency  inlet  duct  produced  by  Blackhawk  Composites;  one four­‐point  engine  mount ring  assembly  and  all  new  engine  mount  isolators;  a  new,  40  percent  larger  oil  cooler,  and  a  new  engine  hose  kit.  It  also  includes  new  Blackhawk  Hawkeye  DigiLog  engine  gauges  and  two  new  exhaust  stacks,  as  well  as  a  flight  manual  supplement  with  full,  flight test  certified performance,  maintenance  and  repair  manuals  and  full  technical  support  for  life  of  the  airplane.  The PT6A­‐42A  has  a  3,600  hour  time  between  overhauls  with  a  qualified  trend  monitoring  program;  that  can  be  increased  to  5,000  for  qualified  operators.

Blackhawk  Modifications,  Inc.,  founded  in  1999  in  Waco,  Texas,  is  a  recognized  aviation  leader  in  providing  engine  performance  solutions  to  the  turboprop  fleet.    The  company  has  the  largest  installed  fleet  of  STC  twin engine  turboprop  engine  upgrades  and  is  the  largest  buyer  of  new  Pratt  &  Whitney  Canada  turboprop  engines  in  the  world.   A  worldwide  network  of  approved  dealers  and  service  support  centers  complements  Blackhawk’s  U.S.  facilities.

For  more  information,  visit  www.blackhawk.aero. Contact:  Lisa  Sifuentes BDN  Aerospace  Marketing 505  S.  Val  Vista,  Suite  1 Mesa,  AZ    85204 (480) 924­‐0690 lisa@bdnaerospace.com