Blackhawk Modifications is upgrading used King Air 350s with bigger engines and new props that the company says deliver "jet-like" speed and reduced cabin noise.
"The King Air 350 is a natural progression for us," said Bob Kromer, vice president for flight testing, at the Texas company that specializes in upgrading King Air 90 and 200 models. "The new engine and prop combination provides the largest performance increase we've ever seen."
(Blackhawk claims 332 KTAS at 28,000 feet compared to 292 KTAS for a stock airplane.)
It also reduces the time to climb to 35,000 feet to 18 minutes from 45 minutes.
The upgrade swaps the standard Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A engines for -67A models that provide about 25 percent more power at altitude, and it adds new five-blade, composite MT Propellers.
Blackhawk has modified about 640 turboprop aircraft (and installed more than 1,200 new engines) since it was founded in Waco in 1999. It also transforms Cessna Caravans and Conquests, and Piper Cheyennes with new engines and other improvements.