TBM 700 Soon To Have Optional Powerplant Upgrade Blackhawk Aerospace are known as the modification specialist and one of their recent projects has been working to upgrade the power for the TBM 700. If the PT6A-66D they are working on is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then it would be an option to replace the factory 700-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64. This would give the TBM 700 850-shp powerplant that would essentially bring it more in-line with the TBM 850 model.
This coming STC approval will have many benefits for owners and operators of the TBM 700 who want more power and performance out of their aircraft. As a result of the extensive testing Blackhawk Aerospace have been doing with this upgraded engine, they can confidently say there are tangible benefits. Time-to-climb to an altitude of FL310 has been reduced by 6 minutes. There is now an extra power and that allows the maximum cruise to increase by about 25-knots taking it over 300-knots.
"The new XP66D engine upgrade exemplifies Blackhawk’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the aviation industry," said Edwin Black, president of Blackhawk’s proprietary upgrades division. "This upgrade combines our extensive experience in STC development with the deep TBM platform knowledge of [our] Avex performance center, delivering a transformative performance solution to TBM 700 owners."
With EAA Air Venture underway currently, Blackhawk Aerospace took the opportunity to update the industry on the progress. They said that they have submitted a request to the FAA for a supplemental type certificate (STC) on its XP66D engine upgrade for Daher TBM 700-series turboprop singles. If you are at EAA Air Venture you can see the test-bed aircraft which is a 2004 TBM 700C2. The airplane has the upgraded engine but has also been fully refurbished. For more information: Blackhawk Aerospace 150 West Park Loop, Suite 106 Huntsville, AL 35806 ***
