Photograph:
Soloy Aviation Cessna TU-207 Skywagon VH-SUQ (c/n 20700520) at Bankstown, NSW in December 1989 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light utility aircraft
Power Plant:
One 312 kw (418 shp) Rolls-Royce 250-C20S turboprop
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.92 m (35 ft 10 in)
- Length: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.92 m (9 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 16.2 m² (174 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 296 km/h (184 mph)
- Stalling speed: 107 km/h (67 mph)
- Take-off run: 233 m (736 ft)
- Landing run: 218 m (714 ft)
- Max rate of climb: 500 m/min (1,640 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 276 litres (61 Imp gals)
- Optional fuel: 197 litres (43 Imp gals)
- Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 979 kg (2,175 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,800 kg (4,000 lb)
History:
Soloy Aviation Solutions has for many years been involved in converting aircraft and helicopters to turbine power. Aircraft involved have included the Cessna 206, 207, 208 etc. The Soloy Turbine Cessna 207 has been fitted with the same 312 kw (418 shp) Rolls Royce 250-C20S engine package as the Soloy 206 Mk 1, the 207 with the extra power from this unit providing a more versatile people / cargo lifter with a useful load of 828 kg (1,825 lb). It was fitted with a 2.41 m (95 in) Hartzell three-blade feathering propeller turning at 1,810 rpm for quiet vibration-free operation. The Turbine-Pac gearbox installation had a 3,500 hour TBO and it had a reverse-flow alternate intake system for FOD and ice protection. All variants of the 207, including the 207 Stationair 7 and Stationair 8, were eligible for conversion but some earlier models required conversion to a 24 volt electrical system.
The aircraft was normally a seven-seater but an eighth seat could be fitted, and PK floats could be installed in both th seaplane and amphibious configurations. One example has been registered in Australia, this aircraft, a TU-207A, being VH-SUQ (c/n 20700520 – ex N6425H) registered to Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd of Yagoona, NSW. It was placed on the market for sale but no sale in Australasia was forthcoming and it was exported in January 1991 to Eichenberger Aviation of Buttwill, Switzerland as HB-CJL, later becoming OO-PCZ, operating on skydiving duties from Amsterdam in the Netherlands.