Blackhawk Modifications (Booth No. C6516) signed another new dealer to its worldwide network of authorized installation and service centers for turboprop engine performance upgrades. Flying Colours of Peterborough, Ontario, and Chesterfield, Mo., joins Blackhawk’s roster of 77 authorized dealers for its upgraded engine installation programs. Sean Gillespie, director of marketing for Flying Colours, said the agreement with Blackhawk gives the company an opportunity to “return to our roots” serving the large turboprop market in Canada and the U.S. Blackhawk is signing other new dealers here at NBAA including ExecuJet Africa and Premium Jet in Brazil.

Blackhawk also announced it had received EASA certification for its XP42A conversion for the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. Blackhawk received FAA approval for the conversion in June. The conversion replaces the stock P&WC PT6A-114A engine with the more powerful Dash 42A model and achieves substantial performance improvements in fuel consumption, cruise speed, rate-of-climb and useful load. The conversion also includes a new engine cowling, new Frakes exhaust stacks and a new Hartzell 100-inch four-blade propeller.