Tony Booker, a mechanic at Smyrna Air Center, modifies the cowling on a Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft for a new engine Wednesday.
John A. Gillis/DNJ
SMYRNA — For 30 years, Smyrna Air Center has provided services to the general aviation community at Smyrna Airport for everything from fuel sales to office and hangar leases to aircraft sales, maintenance and avionics repair. But the Fixed Base Operator is also the only company int he world with an exclusive contract with General Electric for the installation of engines on King Air aircraft.
Curt Drumm, the president of Lakeshore Aviation of Manitowoc, Wis., flew the first King Air airplane that has two brand new H80 General Electric engines in it into Smyrna Airport this past week. The conversion of the aircraft to handle the GE engine, along with modification of the plates to hold new avionics (instrument panels) and propellers was completed by Smyrna Air Center.
Drumm likes the ride.
“I have flown King Airs with the factory Pratt & Whitney enigines,” Drumm said. “The performance difference is huge. Take off distance to altitude, climb performance and the cruise speeds are much better.”
Drumm said a business investor took ownership of the aircraft on Dec. 31 last year. Drumm’s company operates the aircraft, which has a plush new interior, new avionics, new engines and propellers.
“Passengers love it,” Drumm said. “It is smooth, quiet and has a beautiful leather interior,” he said of the eight-seat aircraft and its quieter engines.
Blake Tumbleson, director of sales and marketing for Smyrna Air Center, said that King Air aircraft typically come out of the factory with three propellers blades that are then converted to five blades by Smyrna Air Center.
“With five blades, you can pass the same amount of air at a lower power setting,” he explained. “It saves fuel and it is quieter.”
The new GE engines running in combination with the new propellers increase horsepower from 550 to 800.
“You burn less fuel. You climb to altitude faster (normally in the low to mid 20,000-foot range),” Tumbleson said.
He said the aircraft, which is used by individuals or corporate charter companies, could fly as high as 26,000 feet.
Smyrna Air Center modifies the aircraft’s engine cowling to accommodate the new GE engines.
“If it is not done correctly, it could damage the engine(s),” he explains.
The GE engine is a push button computer start, which Tumbleson said eliminates any risk of damaging the engine. Typical factory engines are hot start engines.
“Each engine has a fuel controller,” Tumbleson said. “Sometimes the fuel controller breaks in flight. With these GE engines, you can continue to run both engines (if a fuel controller breaks).”
Tumbleson said Smyrna Air Center has some of the most experienced employees in its maintenance shop in the country.
“You can have a maintenance shop without being part 145 certified,” he said. “But as a certified avionics shop, we are held to a significantly higher standard by the FAA.”
Another King Air aircraft is going on the market by Smyrna Air Center, complete with brand new GE engines, propellers, avionics and new interior. The interior work: seats, carpet and wood laminate, is contracted out by Smyrna Air Center. Asking price is $1,895,000.
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