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Blackhawk announces PC–12 engine mod

Waco, Texas-based Blackhawk Aerospace will be adding the Pilatus PC–12 to its line of supplemental type certificated engine upgrade offerings. The new program is called the XP67P Engine+ Upgrade, and it will replace the stock Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B engines with that company’s PT6A-67P variant. The modification is available to the more than 600 PC–12s built from 1995 to 2008.

Blackhawk Aerospace announced the XP67P Engine+ Upgrade for Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Aerospace.

In 2008, Pilatus began manufacturing its newer PC–12/47E models with the -67P engines, and switched to Honeywell’s Apex avionics suite.

Whereas the -67B engine has an interstage turbine temperature (ITT) of 800 degrees Celsius for takeoff, and 760 degrees Celsius for max continuous power in climb and cruise, the -67P engine’s ITT limits are higher—850 degrees Celsius and 820 degrees Celsius for takeoff and climb/cruise, respectively. These higher ITT limits allow the 1,200-shaft-horsepower engine to produce 142 more shaft horsepower than the -67B versions in earlier PC–12s.

The higher ITT limits let this new mod put out more torque at higher altitudes. Blackhawk says that where the -67B starts losing power at 13,000 feet, the -67P can go to 23,000 feet before reaching its max continuous ITT limits.

Jim Allmon, Blackhawk president and CEO said, “Building upon the success of our existing Cessna Caravan engine upgrades, adding the Pilatus PC–12 platform to our growing list of STCs was a natural evolution for the aftermarket engine business that Blackhawk was built on. Our foundation of innovation continues to carry us to new and exciting heights, and we look forward to welcoming PC–12 owners and operators into the Blackhawk family.”

Blackhawk says that many of the eligible PC–12s are now at, or close to, an overhaul event—an optimal time to upgrade to new engines. Furthermore, if customers upgrade before reaching factory TBO, Blackhawk will offer core engine credit of $95 per hour for any time remaining to the factory TBO.

The upgrade retains the existing Hartzell four-blade aluminum propeller. Blackhawk says additional propeller options are planned in the future.

Flight testing for the XP67P Engine+ Upgrade is projected to start late in the first quarter of 2022.

Thomas A. Horne
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.
Topics: National Business Aviation Association, Turboprop

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