Twin Commander Aircraft LLC is offering a $100,000 discount on re-engining upgrades for the Twin Commander 690A and 690B models. The upgrade replaces the standard-issue, 717-shp Garrett TPE331-5 engines with the more powerful, 1,000-shp Honeywell TPE331-10Ts.
The price of the two-engine conversion is $530,000. This includes removal of the old engines, upgrading the turbine sections with Dash-10T components and other engine mods, upgrading the airframe to accommodate the reworked engines, and reinstallation. The discount amounts to about 16 percent off the usual price for a Dash-10T conversion, Twin Commander says.
The Dash-10 engines can maintain their flat-rated power to about 16,000 feet, compared to the Dash-5 engines, which begin losing power at some 6,000 feet. Dash-10 max cruise speeds are 300-plus knots; Dash-5-powered 690As and Bs top out at 275 knots.
“We are able to offer this special pricing because of the desire of all the partners involved to help the 690-series owners and operators to take the step up to Dash-10 power,” said Matt Isley, president of Twin Commander Aircraft. The discount offer is valid only for a limited number of customers, according to Isley. “We expect strong response, but we can’t extend the program indefinitely. It’s first come, first served,” he said.
The modification can be performed at Twin Commander authorized service centers, Honeywell service facilities, and at Standard Aero repair and overhaul centers.
