Photograph:
Beech A36 Tradewind Bonanza Turbine VH-XSG (c/n E2672) at Wedderburn, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Six-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 373 kw (500 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 turboprop
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11.56 m (37 ft 10 in)
- Length: 8.93 m (29 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 17.47 m² (188.1 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 7,620 m (25,000 ft): 463 km/h (288 mph)
- Long-range cruising speed at 7,620 m (25,000 ft): 416 km/h (259 mph)
- Max range: 1,760 km (1,093 miles)
- Time to climb to 7,620 m (25,000 ft): 15 mins
- Max rate of climb: 762 m/min (2,500 ft/min)
- Take-off run: 213 m (700 ft)
- Landing run: 213 m (700 ft)
- Max usable fuel:340 kg (750 lb) – 424 litres (93 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
- Max useful load: 567 kg (1,250 lb)
- Max take-off weight: 1,837 kg (4,050 lb)
History:
In the 1960s companies such as Soloy looked at re-engining aircraft with turbines and to this end Soloy developed variants of the Cessna 206 and 207, receiving orders in 1964 for 20 Model 206 aircraft. It, and other companies, looked at fitting the PT-6 or the Allison 250 series of engines to private business and personal transport aircraft. The Allison Gas Turbine Division of General Motors commenced work with Soloy on the Allison powered Cessna 206 and other applications, testing a turbine-powered Beech Bonanza with the intent of obtaining a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the conversion. The proposal was to certify turbine conversions of the A36, to be followed by the Models 33 and 35 Bonanzas.
The prototype of the new Bonanza was a conversion of a 1979 A36 (N250AT) fitted with a 313 kw (420 shp) Allison 250-B17C engine driving a three-blade Hartzell propeller. The engine weighed 91 kg (200 lb) less than the Continental unit previously installed. This aircraft was fitted with a forward baggage compartment, wingtip tanks, and winglets.
Over the years Soloy has made a number of conversions to Allison 250 power, including Bell 47 and Hiller UH-12 helicopters, most appearing on the US Civil Register, but examples have been registered in this part of the world..
Another company, Turbine Air in Spokane in Washington City, has also been involved in conversions of the Bonanza, fitting a number of aircraft with a 373 kw (500 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 turboprop. In April 2016 Soloy Aviation Solutions and Tradewind Turbines announced the transfer of ownership of the turbine-powered Beech A36 STC to Soloy. Some A36 aircraft were converted to the Allison 250-B17F/1 unit.
At least one example of a turbine-powered Bonanza has appeared on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register, this aircraft being known as a Tradewind Conversion. It was operated out of Bankstown, NSW as VH-XSG (c/n E2672 – ex N111SG, N5SG, N8246A) first registered on 26 August 2003. However, it was struck off the register on 13 August 2007 and exported to the United States as N2672. On 21 September 2011 it returned to Australia and became VH-EFW³ owned and operated by Findeta Pty Ltd of Oatlands, NSW. It is then recorded as being owned by Rapidbuilt Inc of Weatherford, Texas and was registered on 15 November 2016, being operated by Queensland Steel of Toowoomba, QLD. In early 2018 it was noted for sale.