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put fewer hours on the airplane and subsequently cost less to fly a particu- lar trip. The explanation here requires some intricate math or an elaborate spreadsheet, but the numbers are le- gitimate. If you consider the 10-year ownership of a Blackhawk XP67A con- verted 300 against a stock 300, the overall costs might be less due to the fewer hours flown. Plus, you get the added benefit of higher speeds, better climb and better OEI performance.
One other buyer might be inter- ested in the Blackhawk XP67A – the buyer looking to buy a jet. At the price point of the Blackhawk engines, some jets could contrast nicely. Usually, the buyer of a jet wants speed, but most of the “affordable” jets come with a small tube, less-than-adequate baggage space, and they don’t operate from shorter runways with aplomb. With the Blackhawk XP67A, you get near jet climb and cruise performance along with a big cabin, a huge useful load and a lot less cost.
So, which do you choose? If you have a long way to go and have a larg- er purchase budget, the Blackhawk 300 is probably the best answer. If you fly shorter trips and want the additional load carrying capability of the 300 compared to the 200, then the stock 300 is probably the best air- plane for your needs. Me? I’ll gladly fly either. I love them both. One thing is for sure – you simply cannot go wrong with a King Air 300 airframe regardless of which engine is bolted on the front.
CIES
Joe Casey is an FAA-DPE and an ATP, CFI, CFII (A/H), MEI, CFIG, CFIH, as well as a retired U.S. Army UH60 standardization instruc-tor/ examiner. An active instructor in the PA46 and King Air markets, he has accumulated 14,300-plus hours of flight time, with more than 5,200 dual-given as a flight instructor. Contact Joe at joe@flycasey.com or 903.721.9549.
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June 2021 / TWIN & TURBINE • 19