Page 8 - Volume 17 Number 10

than the Aztec. Nicely-equipped, the engine and propeller overhauls were only 10 months old. Over the years, the Hoods’ personal airliner has proven its worth as an excellent travel tool. “The airline-ticket breakeven is about three people,” Geoff says, depending on the length of the haul.We met the Kansas City-area owner at his Midwest Regional airport base (GPH), a 5,000-foot single-strip suburban field with an ILS and great amenities. The Navajo has always carried itself well, from a ramp presence standpoint; its stance speaks of capability and cabin comfort. The split door allows the upper part to stay open for ventilation, aided by two large cockpit storm windows, when parked with the two- step lower half raised. A peek inside showed a plush club-seating cabin with foldaway worktables; a belted toilet seat faces the door, there’s a refreshment bar in the rear of the cabin, and a baggage area, capable of holding 200 pounds, is farther aft. The nose baggage bin takes another 150 pounds. The emergency exit panel surrounds the right forward cabin window.Hood wishes his plane had the additional cargo-loading door of the Chieftain, which would make stowing gear a bit easier. Otherwise, it has few loading issues; he’s never seen any tail-tipping tendency, even when he was the last to climb aboard. Even with full tanks, he can carry almost 900 pounds of payload.Externally, the Colemill Panther conversion replaces the Navajo’s stock 310-hp TIO-540-A2C engines with the 350-hp -J2BD versions that were used on the stretched Chieftain. The other hallmarks are four-blade Hartzell Q-tip propellers, replacing the normal three-blade units, and a 12-inch wingspan extension on each side with Zip-Tip winglets carrying the Panther logo, which also include landing/recognition lights. Hood can’t honestly say how his plane compares to a stock Navajo C, because he’s never flown other versions.! DOWTY! HARTZELL! MCCAULEY! MT PROPELLER! SENSENICH! RAPCO DISTRIBUTOR! WOODWARD PT6Ahttp://www.rockyprop.com e-mail: rockyprop@rockyprop.com! LARGE INVENTORY ! SAME DAY SHIPPING ! UNCOMPROMISED QUALITY ! COMPETITIVE PRICES ! WORLD CLASS WARRANTY ! FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS2865 AIRPORT DRIVE ! ERIE, CO 80516FAX: 303-665-7164 ! FAA/EASA CRS FR6R545N6 • TWIN & TURBINEOCTOBER 2013