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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1457.PDF
must be changed to a larger diameter to mate with the -10 engine. "We also have to replace the engine control lever brackets because we found that, by using the original ones used with die -6 engine, there would be some interference with the fuel nozzle. We modified each bracket so there would be no contact between the nozzle[s] and the control lever brackets," Clarke says. Because of the replacement of the ITT with the EGT, some wiring changes are required, as is the installation of a new temperature indica tor gauge in the aircraft's cockpit. Eor the full overhaul and convert package, Clarke says, customers can plan to spend about S470,000. This includes the cost of upgrading each engine at $186,500 per powerplant ($373,000 for bodi engines), plus $97,000 for the modification work under the STG For the continued time option, operators will spend $115,500 for each engine, along with the $97,000 for STC work, for a total of $328,000. For the past four years, owners of four mod els of the Rockwell Twin Commander - the 690A, B, C and D - have also benefited from the TPE3 31-10 programme. Approved by the FAA in August 1994, the STC won by Eagle Creek Aviation Services, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was developed in conjunction with AlliedSignal and Twin Commander Aircraft. Eagle Creek then sold the STC to Twin Commander. Twin Commander Aircraft, based in Arling ton, Washington, holds the type certificate for the aircraft and supports the fleet, which was originally produced between 1966 and 1985 by Rockwell (and later Gulfstream). Certified lor single-pilot operation, the aircraft is typically configured for 7-10 passengers. During its production life, 700 Twin Commanders were built and, of those, 390 worldwide are candidates for conversion. Eagle Creek Aviation Services is now one of seven centres authorised by AlliedSignal and Twin Commander to install the TPF331-10T on the four Twin Commander models. Eagle Creek has carried out the majority of the 65 conversions to date, with 36. Matt Hagans, president of Eagle Creek, reports that customers for the Twin Com mander programme can choose die continued time option, which has a per-engine cost of $118,900, or the overhaul and convert option, which is available for $ 188,400 for each engine. Fhe STC portion ol the programme is sold as a separate kit. For the Twin Commander 690A and B, the kit price is S70,000. For the 690C and D models, the price is slightly less, at $60,000. "This is because fewer modifications need to be done on the C and D models," Hagans says. "'Fhe A and B models need to accommodate a larger tailpipe, but a provision for this was already in place on the C and D models." As part of the STC work - for all models - an oil cooler door must be installed in each nacelle on the opposite side of the tailpipes. This increases air flow through the nacelles, enhanc ing die cooling of the upgraded engines during Re-engineing the Beech King Air B100 with the -10 requires new propellers and other changes ground operations such as taxiing and idling. Additional modifications include a change to the cockpit-mounted temperature gauge and the supporting wiring, because of the replace ment of the ITT with the EGT. MANUAL PRIMER "We have also installed a manual primer in the cockpit, giving the pilot the capability to inject more fuel into the engine during the start-up phase," Hagans states."( )n the -10 engine, we're dealing with a larger hot section. At airports that are at higher altitudes where the temperature tends to get cold, often an additional injection of fuel may be needed to start die engine." I lagans points out that operators who select ,the continued time upgrade on the Twin Commander usually do so at either of die air craft's two hot-section inspection intervals. "Fhe time between overhauls for the -5 engine is 5,400h," he remarks. "The hot section inspec tion is at l,800h and 3,600h, so that's the best time to have the continued time upgrade done." At l,800h, he notes, typical -5 hot section inspection and repair work costs about S20.000- 25,000 per engine. At 3,6()()h it is between $45,000 and $60,000. I lagans observes that the Twin Commander upgrade is resulting in deliveries averaging one a month. It is also available under Eagle Creek's Renaissance Commander programme, which includes a total refurbishment of selected mem bers of the Twin Commander family. AlliedSignal's Carmickie reports that the next candidate for the programme will be die (1ASA CI212-100. Known mainly as a utility aircraft, it is powered by two TPE33 l-5s. The C212-100 could be the final aircraft in the programme, he says. "By the time the programme winds down, more dian 4,000 engines could be upgraded."^! Beech King Air B100 reflects a new lease of life FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL June 3 - 9 1998 39
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