CERTIFICATION OF Soloy's Dual Pac combining gearbox, which drives a single propeller, though two Pratt & Whitney PT6D-114D engines, has been delayed to May 1996, while the Washington based company improves the durability of the unit.
The Dual Pac was due to be certificated in June 1995, but following completion of a 250h endurance test, Soloy and development partner Pratt & Whitney Canada opted to make modifications, even though the US Federal Aviation Administration was satisfied with it.
Changes include a revised prop-shaft and bearing bores in the housing, which Soloy hopes will increase time between overhauls.
Soloy says that the delayed certification will not affect the timetable for the re-engine and stretched Cessna Caravan 208B, the first fixed-wing application of the Dual Pac.
The prototype Dual Pac Caravan was displayed at NBAA and was flown from Soloy's Olympia site in the north-western USA to Nevada in 5h at a cruise speed of 205kt (380km/h), considerably faster than that of the standard Caravan.
When the Dual Pac Caravan is certificated it will be the first fixed-wing aircraft to be certificated with the combining gearbox, and the first twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft to be certificated with a single propeller.
Source: Flight International
