Page 10 - Nov 2015 Volume 9, Number 11

Turbines, Inc. Third Page 4/C Adsuccessful program for the TBM airplanes, as well as similar props for the King Air line. Not to be outdone, BLR Aerospace has developed a swept, five-blade “Whisper Prop” retrofit for the King Airs 90 and 200, using MT natural-composite propellers. For the first time, BLR also introduced Whisper Props for the King Air 350 at the show, designed to work with BLR’s factory-standard winglets.On The FieldThe static displays were jammed with the latest new-manufactured offerings and gleaming brokered aircraft. Once again, 18 aircraft were on display in the exhibit hall, towed over from McCarran International, including a King Air 300 from Commuter Air Technology with a high-gross, extended-range fuel system mod. Over 80 airplanes were at Henderson Airport at the south edge of town, everything from a Boeing business jet to the Viking Twin Otter amphibian. Textron Aviation dominated with its combined exhibit of all the Citation and King Air airplanes. The hit of the static show, however, had to be a time-warp Howard 500 executive plane from the 1960s, based on the WW-II Lockheed PV-1 patrol bomber, a hulking taildragger with Pratt & Whitney R2800 radials and wide- chord four-blade Hamilton-Standard props. It could still run a good race with the modern business planes, offering 300-knot speed, stand-up amenities and picture windows.Once the weather ameliorated, the 2015 NBAA convention was an outstanding event. Despite lagging new-plane sales, worldwide economic malaise and terrorism threats, satisfying the necessary business travel requirements of companies continues to be a major industry; nothing else can bring players together as efficiently and conveniently.The 2016 NB•AA Convention will take place in Orlando, Florida, from November 1 to November 3, 2016. For further information, visit www.nbaa.org. T&TJANUARY 2016Nashua Flight Simulator Sixth Page4/C Ad8 • TWIN & TURBINE