Work on the first Blackhawk conversion of a Cessna 208 Caravan in Africa being undertaken by 208 Aviation at Wonder boom Airport, Pretoria, had reached midpoint as this edition was going to press, with the new PT6A-42A engine and coupled cockpit engine gauges being in the final stages of installation along with the new glass cockpit upgrade.

Immediately after the original PT6A-114 engine, nose gear and old avionics were removed, Ben Esterhuisen, CEO of 208 aviation, began with the installation of the new engine and along with all the new avionics .Initially, the original engine mount was replaced with a new four-point engine mount and all the isolators were then replaced with new ones.

This was followed by the installation of the new Blackhawk engine itself along with the new 40% larger oil cooler .All the hoses were replaced with new ones that form part of the installation kit.

The two new frakes exhaust stacks were fitted and then the new wide-chord 100-inch diameter Hartzell four-bladed propeller was installed.

While all this was going on, the new autoclave carbon fibre composite cowling and high efficiency inlet duct, produced by Blackhawk Composites, arrived in South Africa and were then fitted to ensure all fasteners aligned correctly. Once this process was completed, the cowling and inlet duct were sent away for painting and were subsequently refitted.

In parallel with the Blackhawk engine installation process; there was a lot of activity in the cockpit as work started with the upgrade of the avionics. The Blackhawk upgrade includes a set of new Blackhawk Hawkeye DigiLog engine gauges. These new engine gauges are installed because Blackhawk no longer uses a wet engine monitoring system, but instead traducers are mounted on the engine which allow for the use of a digital engine monitoring system.

As a result, the wiring from the engine to the cockpit on the Cessna Caravan needed to be upgraded. Hilton Minnaar, from Stealth Avionics Maintenance Services, was contracted to do this upgrade. Once the wiring upgrade is complete, the new Hawkeye Digilog engine gauges will be fitted into the cockpit. Along with this engine gauge upgrade, Aeronautical Instrument & Autopilot, at Wonder boom, will install a set of Garmin 750 glass avionic systems into the cockpit.

All this work was reaching an advanced stage as this edition of World Air news was being distributed .The Cessna Caravan is now approaching the imminent completion of the upgrade and will enter a series of ground tests and engine runs in preparation for its first test flight with the new Blackhawk PT6A-42A engine.

Jim Allmon, president and CEO of Blackhawk, was due to arrive in South Africa from the United States recently to witness the test flight of the first Cessna Caravan Blackhawk conversion Africa.

The new technology has made aircraft manufacturers become innovative and creative in modifying the aircraft to be able to be efficient, effective and cost effective .This reduces on cost as they are modified to have long haul endurance and improve on speed and performance thus being thus reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance.Cessna Caravan 208B is the horse for operations in unpaved airstrips and airfields and it has short take off and landing performance. It is the most preferred aircraft for humanitarian aid and relief supplies charter flights and also into national parks and game reserves for tourist’s flights.

Anthony Juma is the Editor and Senior Aviation Director at Wings Over Africa Aviation Limited. <br><a href='http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com’> This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Humanitarian Aid Charter flights | Relief Supplies Charter Flights| Air Cargo & Freight Charter Flights & Flight Air News On, First SA Caravan Conversion Reached Mid-Point. </a> The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http://www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/humanitarian-and-relief-flights.html</a>