Turbine on a PA31

[andy_mtl]

Good day folks,

I have a question i hope i can find an answer for

The navajo i fly at work is about due for new engines, and we were talking to my boss, about if it is possible , maybe if it already exists , some sort of STCs to install two turbines on it.

We use it for skydiving operations, so the ideas of turbines gets us all going( no more worrying about shock cooling the engine, price of avgas and time to altitude).

I know they already invented the chayenne, I m just trying to see if you can just install two pc-6 maybe on a normal navajo and be approved for a 702 ops.


Thanks for any positive inputs,

Andy

[iflyforpie]

You're right. They already made one. It's called the Cheyenne and it's a PA31 as well.

IIRC, some (all?) models have time limits for pressurization, so you might be able to pick one up for a relative song for skydiving. King Airs are the same. All much much cheaper and easier than getting an STC or LSTC to stick turbines (and all of the other things that would be required like props, cowls, instrumentation, etc) on a clapped out Ho.

[wallypilot]

there is actually a factory produced turbine powered PA31. Piper called it the T1040, and it is powered by PT6A-11. To be clear, it's not the Cheyenne. It is PA31 fuselage with turbine power. There some slight variations with fuselage stretches, and using the nose from the cheyenne. But it is fundamentally a Chieftan. I have never seen one in canada, but have seen them on occasion in South America, and once and N-registered one in the US several years back. I think they were produced in the early 1980's. I think only around 25 were built.

I would imagine a turbine conversion for conventional PA31 is not yet available, but it would surely make sense to consider developing an STC for either turbine power or at least a FADEC compression piston engine similar to that in the Diamond Twinstar. Would be much cheaper than developing an entirely new aircraft.

[linecrew]

T-1040 in New Zealand:

[andy_mtl]

Thanks guys for the reply, and the great picture.

That would be excatly what i was thinking about, just tought maybe there was some STC kit already availeble.


Andy

[flyinthebug]

there is actually a factory produced turbine powered PA31. Piper called it the T1040, and it is powered by PT6A-11. To be clear, it's not the Cheyenne. It is PA31 fuselage with turbine power. There some slight variations with fuselage stretches, and using the nose from the cheyenne. But it is fundamentally a Chieftan. I have never seen one in canada, but have seen them on occasion in South America, and once and N-registered one in the US several years back. I think they were produced in the early 1980's. I think only around 25 were built.

You are correct on all points Wally except that Bearskin ran 3 of them back in the mid 90s out of YQT. Dedicated medivac machines. I dont know who bought them from the Bear, but they did exist in Canada. I even hoped to get on one when I was in flight school. Nice little aircraft.

[it'sme]

It appears that at least two are on the market.

http://www.controller.com/list/list.asp ... rch=Search

[wallypilot]

Just to be annoying, I am correct on even that point..... I still haven't seen one in Canada.

[skymarc]

Buy an old King Air with a MORE conversion, run those PT6 up to 8000 hrs.

[madtraveller]

Buy an old King Air with a MORE conversion, run those PT6 up to 8000 hrs.

MORE 8000 hour TBO STC is not allowed in Canada, private or commercial OPS.

J.O.

[co-joe]

Usually when you talk to pilots about a/c they once flew, even the shitty ones have earned a somewhat nostalgic kind of fondness. The one guy I met who had flown a T1040 had no such fondness. Something about no range, brutally unstable, and tonnes of maintenance and AD's...

Cheyennes usually get great reviews so maybe that's where you should start, or with an old King Air 90 or 100 with a cycled out pressure vessel since you won't need to pressurise it anyway...

[ea306]

Bearskin Airlines used to operate a couple PA-31 T1040 aircraft based in YQT. That was a long long time ago....

[flyinthebug]

Bearskin Airlines used to operate a couple PA-31 T1040 aircraft based in YQT. That was a long long time ago....

Huh. I heard the same thing somewhere once

PS.. LMAO @ Wally...I stand corrected

[Doc]

Aklak Air operated a T1040. Never saw it out of hangar though. Piper also had a piston version, a T1020. Don't know much about them though. I'd go with the tired King Air scenero over any of the aforementioned above.

[flyinthebug]

Aklak Air operated a T1040. Never saw it out of hangar though. Piper also had a piston version, a T1020. Don't know much about them though. I'd go with the tired King Air scenero over any of the aforementioned above.

I used to be the Base Manager for Aklak (Borek) back in 07/08 in YEV. I dont recall ever hearing that we had a T1040 ever? Long ago doc??

I also agree that the King Air is a much better choice than any of the bastard versions discussed in this thread. That said, I dont remember The Bear`s T1040`s as hanger queens? Were they all like this doc? I know the P-Navajo (Pa31-pressurized) had very touchy engines and she spent alotttt of time in the hanger. I didnt know this was the fact with the T1040 as well?

[xkbal]

Aklak Air operated a T1040. Never saw it out of hangar though. Piper also had a piston version, a T1020. Don't know much about them though. I'd go with the tired King Air scenero over any of the aforementioned above.

I used to be the Base Manager for Aklak (Borek) back in 07/08 in YEV. I dont recall ever hearing that we had a T1040 ever? Long ago doc??

I also agree that the King Air is a much better choice than any of the bastard versions discussed in this thread. That said, I dont remember The Bear`s T1040`s as hanger queens? Were they all like this doc? I know the P-Navajo (Pa31-pressurized) had very touchy engines and she spent alotttt of time in the hanger. I didnt know this was the fact with the T1040 as well?

Aklak operated 2 of them, in the late 80's I believe. One was lost in Sachs Harbour and the other ended up at Borek when they joined forces. It operated out of Mauritania for the UN for several years. Were ok aircraft although it seems stupid to have a Janitrol when you have all that bleed air available (I seem to recall the one that crashed used bleed air heat). Given a choice I prefer the King Air.

[bigsky]

Aklak Air operated a T1040. Never saw it out of hangar though. Piper also had a piston version, a T1020. Don't know much about them though. I'd go with the tired King Air scenero over any of the aforementioned above.

I used to be the Base Manager for Aklak (Borek) back in 07/08 in YEV. I dont recall ever hearing that we had a T1040 ever? Long ago doc??

I believe the aircraft was a T1040 C-GBDH if I recall. I think 4 or 5 died in the crash. Was in or about 1989.

[flyinthebug]

Thanks bigsky & Xkbal for the information.

Fly safe all.

[ea306]

Sorry about that Flyinthebug.... Your post about Bearskin I missed... Oops!


I too would of liked to of flown it back then. A souped up Ho!

[T1040]

Bearskin had three T1040s one each in YQT, YXL, and YTL. They were great machines, bit short on range.

[Mach1]

I thought a T-1040 was an upgraded T-1000.

[just curious]

C-GBDJ...Sold it to Cape Smythe Airways in Barrow AK around 96.

[Adam Oke]

Sell it and buy a timed out King Air 90 and put a couple Walters on it?

[just curious]

When a Kingair is timed out, it's time for it to be sent to the Razor Blade Factory.

[Liftdump]

I flew one of these pieces of SHIT and all
I can say is your passengers are lucky,when one stove
quits they can all jump out.