Originally Posted by
TheSultanofScud
Beyond being, as you've indicated, somewhat underpowered, I saw big problems with propeller erosion...we flew off of a field with a pretty dilapidated runway, and it truly ate our Hartzell alive. Not a complaint I could really level against the design, I suppose...Any similarly sized turboprop single will have the same issues.
Yeah, I saw the same thing, and we were flying them mainly out of major airports. I think the mechanics gave up on filing them, because most of the time those things felt like sandpaper. It's a pretty big prop, I guess it's good at catching stuff on takeoff.
Originally Posted by
TheSultanofScud
I hadn't heard anything about a 1,000 SHP PT6...but I do know Texas Turbine Conversions is offering an STC to put 1,100 SHP Garretts on Caravans that are flatrated to 900 SHP. They call it the Supervan 900 and it's a $625k modification without the cost of the airframe. If you know of a PT6 STC that competes with this, please post it or PM me...I'd definitely be interested in seeing it.
That's what it was. It's been a while since I've flown the Van and followed the latest news so I forgot the details.