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PROPOSED MODIFICATION OPTIONS A
potential upgrade might include some of all of the following items, in
addition to the PT6-67T engines: · Single point refueling system · Upgrade of aircraft navigation and
communication systems · Additional of mission specific avionics · Major overhaul "C" check
inspection · Stripping aircraft to bare metal and
repaint · Introduction to NVG compatible cockpit
lighting · Replacement of interior · Customized interior for different missions The
down time involved in power plant replacement would allow the parallel
undertaking of most of these items on a cost effective basis. Given
the increased performance and extended aircraft life, which the new engines
would offer, there is merit in updating the aircraft avionics. A Caribou
equipped with modern instruments, an R Nav/GPS hybrid and an NVG compatible
cockpit would offer significant capabilities at very modest cost.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINE UPGRADE The
operating characteristics of the Caribou aircraft make it particularly
suitable for operation in remote areas and from unprepared strips. The
airframe of this aircraft
is known to have a high residual fatigue life, however the R2OOO piston
engines adversely affects the aircraft reliability and operating costs.
Contributing factors are as
follows: · Piston engines inherently have poor
maintainability characteristics when compared with turbine engines. · The reliability and time between overhaul
of piston engines are far lower than for turbine engines. · The AVGAS fuel for piston engines is
substantially higher in cost than AVTUR required for turbine engines. In
addition aircraft fleets using both types of fuel require cost-adding
duplication of fuel storage and handling facilities.
· Extension of the operational life of a
valuable asset for a relatively low cost. · Absence of any competitive aircraft at
anywhere near Turbo Caribou price. · Increase in aircraft disbatch reliability
and ease of maintenance. · Changeover to the more readily available
fuel and elimination of duplicate storage and handling facilities for AVGAS · Improved operating costs Substantially improver payload capabilities and productivity. The entire program is designed to be conducted with minimum change to the existing airframe. |
