Blackhawk announces new King Air mod

October 16, 2018 By Thomas A. Horne

Blackhawk Modifications Inc. announced its new XP67A upgrade kit for the 12,500-pound and 14,000-pound max gross weight models of the King Air 300. Some 600 King Air 300s were built between 1984 and 1988.

Blackhawk Modifications is offering a new XP67A upgrade kit for certain King Airs. Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Modifications.

The modification swaps the stock Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A engines of 1,050 shaft horsepower with derated 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engines. Derating delivers more available power at higher density altitudes. The result is a boost in climb rate (to 3,500 fpm), time to climb (to FL350 in less than 17 minutes), cruise speed (to 345 to 350 knots), and higher cruise altitudes. Five-blade, composite-construction MT propellers are available with the modification, as are Hartzell five-blade propellers. Blackhawk expects its XP67A King Air 300 to surpass its big brother—the XP67A-modified King Air 350—in the race for the world’s fastest King Air due to the King Air 300’s lighter-weight airframe.

The supplemental type certificated upgrade kit includes two factory-new engines, new engine warranties of five years or 2,500 hours, an approved flight manual supplement, instructions for continued airworthiness, FlightSafety International training for line maintenance, and a two-year subscription for Pratt & Whitney engine maintenance and parts manuals. Qualifying core PT6A-60A engines will be issued credit of $70 per hour/per engine for time remaining to the engines’ 3,600-hour recommended time between overhaul.

Blackhawk expects the FAA’s approval of the mod in the summer of 2019. Those placing orders prior to the STC approval will be offered a $50,000 pre-certification discount.

In another Blackhawk development, the company’s Phoenix program offers a nose-to-tail refurbishment for King Air and Cessna Conquest I airplanes. XP engine upgrades, new propellers, new paint, new custom interior, a glass cockpit, and fresh inspections and logs come with this ambitious program. Available avionics suites include the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21, Garmin G1000, dual Garmin G600s, or BendixKing AeroVue. Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion cockpit approval is pending.

The Phoenix program can be carried out on an owner’s existing airframe, or Blackhawk will locate a suitable airplane for the upgrade package.

Thomas A. Horne

AOPA Pilot Editor at Large

AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Tom Horne has worked at AOPA since the early 1980s. He began flying in 1975 and has an airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. He’s flown everything from ultralights to Gulfstreams and ferried numerous piston airplanes across the Atlantic.

Go to Thomas A. Horne's Profile

Topics: Jet, Aircraft, National Business Aviation Association

Blackhawk announces new King Air mod

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