Midland's Texas Reciprocating Air Craft Engines (TRACE) celebrated a milestone this weekend with the successful flight of a de Havilland Beaver powered by a TRACE engine over the weekend.
"We're very excited about the performance of the airplane," said TRACE Chief Operating Officer David Czarnecki about the test flight that marked the end of a yearlong effort to design a conversion kit for the de Havilland Beaver. The plane, which carries freight and passengers, typically is categorized as a "bush" plane capable of taking off from small fields, lakes or rivers, if equipped with floats.
The TRACE engine produced 600 horse power and replaced the original Pratt & Whitney Radial engine that produced 45 horsepower. Czarnecki said it took the company a year to design the conversion kit, procure the components and assemble the kit. "We're finally reaping the benefit of the efforts we've put in over the last year," he said.
Sealand Aviation, of Campbell River, British Columbia, provided the de Havilland Beaver and will serve as the sales and installation center for the TRACE Beaver after the company receives a Supplemental Type Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The certification is expected by September after additional ground and flight testing. TRACE and Sealand plan to market the TRACE Beaver primarily to the Canadian and Alaskan markets, where these models bring everything from passengers to food, medical supplies and equipment to remove areas where there are often no roads to access.
TRACE also is developing a conversion kit for the Cessna Caravan, "which is our next conversion project," Czarnecki said as the company works to expand the number of planes it can convert and develop additional platforms. He estimated it will be another six months before the company conducts a test flight of a TRACE Caravan.
At the same time the company successfully tested its Beaver engine, Czarnecki said the company also completed FAA testing of its Air Tractor 301 model, which now will be sold alongside its Air Tractor 401 lines. Air Tractor, based in Olney, manufactures aircraft used in agricultural spraying.
"Things are finally falling into place," he said as the aviation rebounds from the global economic downturn that began in 2008.
Czarnecki said plans are to continue to work with the staff he currently employs to manufacture products and develop new products. As business grows, he said, "we will see" about expanding the workforce
The company's main facility is at 3000 W. Interstate 20, but the company also rents a hangar at Midland International Airport.
"We're very excited about the performance of the airplane," said TRACE Chief Operating Officer David Czarnecki about the test flight that marked the end of a yearlong effort to design a conversion kit for the de Havilland Beaver. The plane, which carries freight and passengers, typically is categorized as a "bush" plane capable of taking off from small fields, lakes or rivers, if equipped with floats.
The TRACE engine produced 600 horse power and replaced the original Pratt & Whitney Radial engine that produced 45 horsepower. Czarnecki said it took the company a year to design the conversion kit, procure the components and assemble the kit. "We're finally reaping the benefit of the efforts we've put in over the last year," he said.
Sealand Aviation, of Campbell River, British Columbia, provided the de Havilland Beaver and will serve as the sales and installation center for the TRACE Beaver after the company receives a Supplemental Type Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The certification is expected by September after additional ground and flight testing. TRACE and Sealand plan to market the TRACE Beaver primarily to the Canadian and Alaskan markets, where these models bring everything from passengers to food, medical supplies and equipment to remove areas where there are often no roads to access.
TRACE also is developing a conversion kit for the Cessna Caravan, "which is our next conversion project," Czarnecki said as the company works to expand the number of planes it can convert and develop additional platforms. He estimated it will be another six months before the company conducts a test flight of a TRACE Caravan.
At the same time the company successfully tested its Beaver engine, Czarnecki said the company also completed FAA testing of its Air Tractor 301 model, which now will be sold alongside its Air Tractor 401 lines. Air Tractor, based in Olney, manufactures aircraft used in agricultural spraying.
"Things are finally falling into place," he said as the aviation rebounds from the global economic downturn that began in 2008.
Czarnecki said plans are to continue to work with the staff he currently employs to manufacture products and develop new products. As business grows, he said, "we will see" about expanding the workforce
The company's main facility is at 3000 W. Interstate 20, but the company also rents a hangar at Midland International Airport.
Source: http://www.mywesttexas.com
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