KA350ER enhancement kit demo'd

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has successfully demonstrated the King Air 350 Extended Range (KA350ER) Mission Enhancement Kit in Huntsville, Alabama, the company announced on 26 October.

SNC has collaborated with Vector-Hawk Aerospace and Advent Aircraft Systems to develop the Mission Enhancement Kit for the King Air 350ER at 16,500lbs and 17,500lbs maximum allowable takeoff weight.

The offering will include two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A engines, MT 5-bladed composite propeller assemblies and spinners, a True Blue Power lithium-ion battery and Advent’s Electronic Anti-Skid Braking system. Training, support and a five-year/2,500 hour enhanced new-engine warranty are also included.

The new product will provide a 25-30% increase in power for the aircraft. Though the PT6A-67A will produce a 400 thermodynamic shaft horsepower increase over the stock PT6A-60A, the Mission Enhancement Kit will reduce the overall weight of the aircraft by about 18lbs.

The kit is currently being tested and the FAA Supplemental Type Certification is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.

Once approved, SNC will offer the kit to the special missions market for US and foreign governments/military aircraft weighing 16,500lbs and above. The company will carry out the installations at its network of authorised facilities.