Blackhawk News

July 24, 2017

PRESS RELEASE | Blackhawk Teams with Metal Innovations to Revitalize the Cessna Caravan

Blackhawk and Metal Innovations Team Up to Revitalize the Cessna Caravan 7.12.17
Pictured Above: Blackhawk’s XP140-powered Cessna Caravan

WACO, TX – July 24, 2017 – Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. and Metal Innovations Inc. are proud to announce that they are teaming up to revitalize aging Cessna Caravans with the Caravan Reset Program. This program will allow Cessna Caravan operators to reset their aircraft to like-new standards, for a fraction of the cost of a new airplane.

Typical maintenance schedules for the Caravan are frequent and costly. Cessna maintenance inspection requirements significantly increase at 20,000 hours of total time, then again every 5,000 thereafter. These intensive inspections take hundreds of man hours to complete and can cost an operator hundreds of thousands of dollars in maintenance costs and lost revenue from aircraft downtime. After several years of development, Metal Innovations is proud to offer a pending FAA Approved STC for the comprehensive reset of aging Caravan aircraft. The new Cessna 208 Special Inspection Document (SID) Reset program provides operators a cost-effective solution to mitigate costly downtime brought on by the substantial inspection schedule associated with aging aircraft concerns.

Coupled with the Metal Innovations Cessna 208 SID Reset STC, the new 867 SHP Blackhawk XP140 Engine+Upgrade will deliver like new performance across the flight envelope. The PT6A-140 is the same engine that is installed on the production Caravan EX model.

XP140 operators enjoy a 28% increase in horsepower for takeoff, climb, and cruise, all while retaining the existing cowling, engine mount, and exhaust system, which make it the most cost effective engine upgrade on the market. Other features include a 325-amp starter generator which lowers start temperatures by 100°F, a new Hartzell 106″ propeller assembly, as well as Hawkeye DigiLog Engine Gauges for monitoring engine parameters with digital accuracy.

“We are thrilled to be working with Metal Innovations on the Caravan Reset Program,” said Jim Allmon, Blackhawk’s President and CEO. “This program gives legacy Caravan owners and operators the opportunity to refurbish their aircraft to like-new conditions for a fraction of the cost of a brand-new Caravan. Not only does this program give the owner an impressive return on investment, but it also provides the operator with impressive performance that is the same or better than factory-new Caravans.”

“Pairing the innovative solutions offered by both Blackhawk’s XP140 engine and Metal Innovations’ Cessna 208 SID Reset STC, provides an ideal reset package for Caravan operators facing aging aircraft issues,” stated Kim Wilmes, Metal Innovations Inc. President and CEO. “We are very excited to work with Blackhawk and have the opportunity to offer customers a complete reset solution from tip to tail with the XP140 engine upgrade option.”

Blackhawk and Metal Innovations are now accepting orders for the Caravan Reset Program. Please contact a representative from either company to sign up today.

For more information, stop by the Blackhawk booth #307 at EAA AirVenture July 24th – 30th in Oshkosh, WI.

###

About Blackhawk Modifications
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., founded in 1999 in Waco, Texas, is a recognized aviation leader in providing engine performance solutions to the turboprop fleet. The company has the largest installed fleet of STC twin and single-engine turboprop upgrades, making Blackhawk the largest non-OEM buyer of new Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines in the world. A worldwide network of approved dealers and service support centers complements Blackhawk’s U.S. facilities. For more information, visit www.blackhawk.aero.

Contact:
Lindsay Allmon
Marketing Coordinator
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc.
7601 Karl May Dr.
Waco, TX 76708
+1 (254) 755-6711
lindsay.allmon@blackhawk.aero

Click here for a high-resolution Blackhawk Modifications logo.
Click here for a high-resolution Metal Innovations logo.