Blackhawk Gets FAA Okay For King Air 350 Transformation

Blackhawk Modifications celebrated Eclipse Day on Monday with the announcement that it had earned FAA STC approval for its modification package that puts new, more powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A turboprop engines on existing King Air 350s.

Blackhawk president Jim Allmon said the certification process included 172 flight hours over the course of 132 flights, a process that Blackhawk completed in just over a year.

Courtesy of Blackhawk Modifications

The performance improvement in the plane is nothing short of remarkable. The XP67A can climb to its ceiling of 35,000 feet in just 18 minutes and boasts a top speed of 340 knots at 28,000 feet. While the airplane isn't as fast as most entry-level jets, it's still a 340-knot twin that can haul twice the load of many light jets and do so with a cabin that's nearly as large as some midsize jets.

The market is apparently noticing, too. Blackhawk reports that it has nearly a dozen orders for the mod package, some of those from operators who fly in mountainous terrain.

For detailed information on the mod program, visit Blackhawk's XP67A website.