Recently in Turboprop Category

Hot off the press (release) comes this cracking image of the first ATR -600 model to enter service in Mexico. It's been delivered to Aeromar, one of the major regional airlines in the country, on long-term lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The delivery sees Aeromar become the first operator of the ATR -600 series aircraft in the region.

Turboprops are never going to get as much love as other aircraft types. They lack the scale of an A380, the excitement of a jet fighter or the potential for battery-induced blazes of a 787. Nonetheless, this picture from ATR of the first delivery of an ATR 72-600 to Myanmar's Air KBZ may go someway to redressing that balance.

Japan's All Nippon Airways has joined rival JAL in having an aircraft painted in a environmental-themed livery.

ANA followed JAL's lead and tinted its tail green. Unlike JAL's livery on a 777, ANA opted for much smaller jet: a Q400.

The carrier says employees have nicknamed the aircraft "Eco Bon" with eco standing for environment and bon for bon voyage. The aircraft will operate on domestic routes for ANA Wings, ANA Group's regional airline that commenced operations on 1 October.

Honeywell has given its Convair 580 test aircraft a facelift to reflect the trademark red and white colour scheme of its engine/avionics manufacturer. The twin-engined turboprop - registration N580HW - is pictured at its Paine Field in Everett, Washington base where it is used to test the new avionics.

The CV580 was previously decked in the blue and white paint scheme and N580AS registration of AlliedSignal - which bought and merged with Honeywell in late 1999. Continue reading...

Sky Aircraft has cut first metal for its SK-105 Skylander twin turboprop after making major changes to the design of the light utility aircraft.

The France-based GECI Aviation subsidiary - which is publicly revealing the Skylander's new configuration at ILA in the form of a model on its stand - has meanwhile signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE defence force to supply 10 cargo versions of the aircraft. Continue reading...

Indonesian Aerospace has kicked off a three-year programme to develop a new 19-seat turboprop aircraft aimed at small domestic charter operators demanding a "rugged, reliable and affordable" aircraft to service the archipelago nation of 17,000 islands.

IAe aerostructures director Andi Alisjahbana says the high-wing IAe N219 will have a list price of $3.5 million and feature three-abreast seating in one of the largest passenger cabins in its class. Continue reading...

Hawker Beechcraft has demonstrated a more powerful version of its AT-6 turboprop, ahead of a US Air Force competition for a light attack and armed reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft.

The second AT-6 production-representative test vehicle flew on 5 April (below) and is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68D engine, increasing thrust to 1,600shp (1,190kW) from 1,100shp. Continue reading...

(Hawker Beechcraft)

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Michael Leek. His photo depicts a RAF Beech King Air B200.

He writes of his photo:

It was taken on Thursday 25 February at the Cader Idris pass in mid Wales (part of the Mach Loop). She came out of the low cloud and instead of climbing up to get clear of the weather she dropped down into the pass. She made two complete circuits of the Loop. I was in mid Wales for two days - specifically to photograph whatever aircraft came through on low level sorties and, as you can see, the weather was not the best - the snow was knee deep in places! Capturing a King Air is unusual as these are rarely seen low level. The vast majority of my aviation photography is low level; in Wales, north west England and in Scotland, though the latter is more hit-and-miss because north of the central belt practically the whole country is a low flying area!

Ruag is close to completing final assembly of the first new-build Dornier 228 New Generation 19-seat turboprop at its factory in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The aircraft, the first 228 to roll off the German line since 1997, will be delivered to an undisclosed Japanese airline. Continue reading...