The Blackhawk Group Celebrates Milestone with 2000th PT6A Engine Delivery from Pratt & Whitney Canada
The Blackhawk Group (TBG), a services provider for light turbine-powered aircraft, officially receives delivery of the company’s 2,000th Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A engine since its original founding in 1999. This milestone underscores over two decades of commitment to improving aircraft performance and value for operators across the world.
Since 1999, The Blackhawk Group, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, has partnered with operators of Beechcraft King Airs, Cessna Caravans, Piper Cheyennes, Daher TBMs (coming soon), and Pilatus PC-12s to deliver a new level of speed, climb, payload and efficiency through PT6A upgrades. These enhancements have helped aircraft owners and operators achieve higher resale values, improved mission readiness, and better overall reliability.
The PT6A engine, developed by Pratt & Whitney Canada, has been a cornerstone of general aviation since its inception. With over 500 million flight hours and tens of thousands of engines in service, the PT6A remains one of the most reliable and trusted turboprop engines in the world. TBG’s upgrade programs have helped operators avoid costly overhauls by replacing aging engines with new factory units that offer increased performance, shorter downtime, and reduced operating costs.
The 2,000th engine delivery represents thousands of aircraft transformed, millions of hours saved, and performance benchmarks redefined. TBG continues to innovate through its XP Engine+ programs, offering a range of PT6A models, including the PT6A-52, -61, -67A, -67P, -66D,-135A and -140. These factory-new engines not only enhance aircraft performance but also provide peace of mind with zero-time status, full factory warranties, and the latest advancements in PT6A technology, especially when it comes to Blackhawk’s XP67A upgrade for the King Air 300/350 series, the company’s most transformative conversion.
TBG is grateful for their continued partnership with P&WC and looks forward to many more successful years working together to serve their mutual customers. Chad Cundiff, CEO of The Blackhawk Group, says, “This milestone is more than a number; it’s a reflection of the trust our customers place in us and the strength of our collaboration with Pratt & Whitney Canada. At The Blackhawk Group, we’re driven by a belief that legacy aircraft still have untapped potential. The 2,000th PT6A engine delivery is proof that when you pair the right technology with the right team, performance has no limits.”
“Reaching our 2,000th PT6A engine delivery is a proud moment for everyone at Blackhawk,” says Edwin Black, president of TBG’s Proprietary Upgrades division. “This milestone reflects our deep commitment to helping operators get more from their aircraft — more power, more performance and more value. Our longstanding partnership with Pratt & Whitney Canada has been essential to our success, and we look forward to continuing to push boundaries together.”
Cedric Gauthier, vice president of Sales and Marketing–General Aviation at Pratt & Whitney Canada, adds, “Blackhawk has been a trusted collaborator for more than two decades. Its upgrade programs have consistently pushed the capabilities of PT6A-powered aircraft, helping operators worldwide get more performance and value out of their airframes. Reaching the 2000th engine milestone speaks to that shared success.”
“Deciding to do the XP67A Blackhawk conversion on our King Air 300 was the best decision we have made,” says Rob Van Hofwegen, King Air 300 pilot. “It meets every expectation that was presented to us and has performed in a way that gives us better safety margin while saving us money year after year. When I go to recurrent and share my stories, everyone’s eyes get big when I describe my rocket ship of a King Air to them. I would highly recommend that anyone considering the Blackhawk conversion do it. You will not regret it!!”
For more information, call +1 (254) 755-6711, visit blackhawk.aero, or interact with The Blackhawk Group team at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, Booth #322.