Ibis Offers Higher Performance Ae270HP

Currently in the early stages of flight testing, the Czech-Taiwanese Ibis Ae270 utility turboprop is to have a high performance variant aimed at the corporate and executive owner, it was learned at the NBAA Convention. Upgrading from the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A which will power the baseline Ae270P, the new Ae270HP boasts 1,583 equivalent shp delivered by the ­66A version of this engine. Immediate benefits are faster climb rate and related fuel savings from longer time at optimum altitude.

The ten-seat (including crew) Ae270P continues to be available for missions in which medium/short haul efficiency is paramount. Ibis hopes that operators of this variant will be persuaded later to upgrade to an HP--as will current users of the not dissimilar Piper Meridian and TBM700. Those happy with a non-Western engine can specify the Ae270W with a Czech-designed Walter M601 turboprop.