Sabreliner and Sierra parent Innova Aerospace on 25 July unveiled the new conglomerate’s two latest upgrade programmes aimed at the business aviation market.
Using Sierra’s supplemental type certificate (STC) and Sabreliner’s conversion facilities in Perryville, Missouri, the Naples, Florida-based Innova has upgraded some versions of the 3,000-strong King Air C90 fleet with GE Aviation’s H80 turboprop engine with digital electronic controls and the BendixKing Aerovue digital avionics flight deck.
Examples of both upgrades launched since February made debut appearances at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The new engine and avionics are the most visible options offered by Innova, but Sabreliner also offers painter and interior upgrade packages, says Greg Fedele, executive vice-president of corporate development for Innova.
“We like to be as flexible as possible for the customer,” he says.
The King Air upgrade programme follows Innova’s previously announced plan to offer an Aerovue cockpit upgrade for the Cessna Citation 560-series business jet, which remains in development.
The engine upgrade for the King Air will take longer to bring to market than Innova expected. Sabreliner plans to make a tweak to the STC installation for the H80 on the King Air C90, which will extend the development schedule to the first quarter of 2017.
As installed, the 800shp H80 — GE’s recent remake of the Walter M601 — should result in a 10% increase in range, an 8% increase in specific fuel consumption and 90shp more than the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-135A.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
