BUSINESS TURBOPROPS by Mark Huber Aircraft Offer Value Gipps Airvan 10 the Market Can’T Refuse
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BUSINESS TURBOPROPS by Mark Huber Aircraft offer value Gipps Airvan 10 the market can’t refuse This is the healthiest market for new turboprops in years. In 2008, the last year before the global econ- omy completely shed its wheels, members of the Epic LT kit, basis for the E1000 General Aviation Manufacturers Association delivered Singles 538 turboprop aircraft before experiencing a steady Daher-Socata TBM900 decline in those figures in the following years. Last The latest iteration of the TBM year shipments of turboprops bounced back with was developed and certified in vigor to a record 645 aircraft and there is no short- secret over the last three years and age of new single- and even some new twin-engine delivered to its launch customer models on the horizon. this past March. Meanwhile, the used turboprop market has firmed The $3.7 million 900 is distinct substantially, with the fleet percentages for most from its predecessors with a new models on the markets showing only single-digit avail- Hartzell composite propeller with five dramatically swept blades and ability and high pricing as a result. According to the a redesigned spinner, winglets, new aircraft pricing service Vref, a 1985 Cessna Caravan engine exhaust stacks and a subtly trades for an astonishing 93 percent of its new price; different engine air intake that has a 1981 Cessna Conquest II twin even higher at 99 a slight twist. It is mainly the new percent of new; a 1991 TBM700, 85 percent of new; propeller that helps give the TBM a 2008 TBM850, 81 percent of new; a 2009 Piper a higher top speed of 330 knots, Meridian 75 percent of new; and a 1990 Pilatus reduces standard-day sea-level take- PC-12, 74 percent of new. off distance by more than 20 percent, improves climb rates (18 minutes to This kind of used pricing makes new turboprops the 31,000-foot certified ceiling) and all the more attractive. U.S. turboprop manufacturers boosts range to 1,730 nm (45-min- THURBER MATT dominate the market with a better than 80-percent ute reserve). At cruise altitude the share and most of this output is for the export mar- Pratt & Whitney Canada P&WC mode the propeller is automat- single is powered by a 450-shp ket, which seems to have a better understanding of PT6A-66D burns 37 gph and a new ically feathered. Other cockpit Rolls-Royce 250-B17 driving a a turboprop’s value, especially unpressurized singles torque limiter enables the use of 850 refinements include more buttons Hartzell HC-D3F-7 three-blade such as the Cessna Caravan and Quest Kodiak that shp for takeoff. on the control yokes. The yokes propeller. It features a 50-inch- can operate from unimproved runways. Minor changes also have been have been optimized to accommo- wide sliding aft cargo door. It made to the cowling airflow, land- date tablet computer devices and has a full-fuel payload of 1,400 What once were almost exclusively civilian turbo- ing-gear doors (bigger and more the instrument panel now has two pounds (useful load 2,250 pounds, props are being pressed into military service by cost- aerodynamic), wings, dorsal fin USB ports and a 12-volt socket. standard fuel capacity 153 gal- conscious nations, also driving demand. Last year and empennage–all designed to The pilot seats now adjust in all lons), a range of 550 nm with IFR the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled an armed wring the last bit of aerodynamic three axes and the rudder pedals reserves and a cruising speed of Cessna Caravan and Air Tractor 802 crop duster at efficiency from the airplane. A new are also adjustable, so pilots can 145 ktas. Maximum climb rate is the Dubai airshow. strake on the left lower forward dial in their personal ergonom- 1,000 fpm and the service ceiling While U.S. manufacturers likely will dominate the fuselage a few feet in front of the ics. The 900 features the Garmin is 20,000 feet. The takeoff roll is wing leading edge gives the air- G1000 system with three large dis- 1,100 feet (1,600 over a 50-foot turboprop market for some years to come, the rising plane better stall manners. plays and a remote FMS control obstacle), giving this aircraft true dollar, pushing through four-year highs against a basket Numerous improvements have panel. Starting is easier thanks STOL capability. of international currencies that includes the euro, could been made to the cockpit. A sim- to a new 300-amp generator that The flat floor of the Airvan make competing foreign products such as the simple plified, single power lever replaces accelerates the sequence and auto- 10 main cabin can be configured single Mahindra/Gipps Airvan 10 much more attractive the throttle and propeller controls matically shuts off at 50-percent for diverse missions, including on price to some buyers and jump start programs such and the condition lever and reduces Ng, and all external lights are now patrol/reconnaissance/surveillance, as the speedy Avic Primus 150 single in China. pilot workload. LEDs. The company holds orders medevac, skydiving, freight and One thing is certain: as energy prices remain firm at The lever operates in a classic H for more than 40 of the aircraft. commuter operations. The cabin gate pattern reminiscent of stick- (50 inches wide, 45 inches tall and current levels, the airlines are rediscovering the value shift Ferraris: the left side is the Mahindra/Gipps Airvan 10 16 feet, one inch long) can be con- of turboprops–nothing hauls as much as efficiently on thrust mode for taxi and flight and Developed from the boxy metal figured for 10 passengers (nine short hops–and so is general aviation. the right side is condition mode piston-powered Airvan 8, this $1.3 in the cabin and one in the copi- for start and cutoff. In condition million unpressurized turboprop lot seat) and still offer 32 cu ft 34 Aviation International News • November 2014 • www.ainonline.com Quest Kodiak with Summit option Engineering LLC, a Russian MRO that installation in 2011.) The last listed bought the company in 2012. price for the 500 was $1.75 million. Kestrel K-350 Avic/Caiga Primus 150 The future of this program hinges China’s state-run general aviation on obtaining additional investment. company made two big moves into To date the company has received sup- GA: buying the design rights to the old port in the form of various government Epic Aircraft designs and acquiring grants, loans and tax credits, and some composite lightplane maker Cirrus in of these have been renegotiated recently 2011. Apparently it went to school fast, while the company pursues more pri- unveiling a mockup for a five-seat fast vate equity. The engineering work is single in late 2012. The all-composite, largely complete, some parts have been $1.24 million Primus 150, with styling fabricated, and the engine/prop/cowl more than just a little similar to the old has run on a test stand. The aircraft Epic Escape, is aiming for a maximum Extra 500 today bears little detailed resemblance cruise speed of 352 knots (identical to to the original Kestrel JP10, which first the Escape), a range of 1,410 nm and flew in 2006 and was developed by the a ceiling of 28,000 feet. Power comes now-defunct Farnborough Aircraft. from the 850-shp GE H85. The air- Major suppliers for the K-350 have craft made its first flight over the sum- already been selected. They include mer and deliveries could begin as early Garmin for the G3000 touchscreen avi- as next year; however, at this time the onics system and Honeywell for the order book appears slim, with signa- TPE331-14GR engine, flat-rated to tures for only eight aircraft. 1,000 shp and providing a 5,000-hour TBO. The aircraft features a four- to Quest Kodiak with Summit Option five-seat executive interior on par with While this rugged little beast has those of modern corporate jets, includ- been around for a few years, 2014 is the ing high-gloss wood veneers, upscale first time you can get it with an exec- leathers, a wide aisle and oversize utive interior. Now you can visit all oval cabin windows reminiscent of a those places airplanes just shouldn’t Gulfstream. It is just one of nine interi- go–and do it in comfort. With the exec- ors Kestrel is developing, with passen- utive Summit interior, the Kodiak has ger seating for five to nine people. The room for five passengers (with one others will accommodate missions as pilot); more utilitarian layouts accom- diverse as medevac, cargo and a high- modate eight to nine people. density configuration for eight pas- You’re not going to confuse this sengers. The cockpit features sidestick with the inside of a Gulfstream. You controls, a low, contoured instrument have two color choices: beige and gray. Primus 150 panel with large flat-panel displays Nevertheless, the interior is comfort- Kestrel K-350 and a wraparound windshield allowing able and functional. The executive inte- company employing 180,000 in more views of both wingtips. rior provides seats that recline, some than 100 countries. Kestrel has not released a price for cabinetry and sidewall tables. The seats the aircraft but it is expected to be in detach quickly and all manner of ply- Epic E1000 the neighborhood of $3 million. Pre- wood sheets, motorcycles and so on Epic continues its campaign to liminary specifications include a max- can be loaded aboard through the giant develop a certified version of the $1.95 imum cruise speed of at least 320 ktas; 49.25-inch by 49.25-inch left-hand aft million LT kitplane.