A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

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Phoenix-based aircraft modification provider Blackhawk Group has been named as the exclusive distributor in North and South America for the engine/propeller replacement supplemental type certificate on the Piper Meridian turboprop single.
Developed by MT-Propeller, the “X-Range” upgrade replaces the factory-installed Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A-42A engine with the lighter PT6A-135A and MT’s five-blade composite MTC-27 Quiet Fan Jet propeller. It also includes a new exhaust system along with improved airbox components, engine mounting hardware, and brackets for the engine power control interface.
Installed, the package boosts cruise speeds up to 258 ktas, improves fuel economy, and increases range up to 1,340 nm at 30,000 feet. The addition of a composite propeller reduces noise levels both within and outside the aircraft.
“Blackhawk Group was the obvious choice for this program in the Americas,” said MT v-p Martin Albrecht. “Their deep experience with PT6A upgrades, reputation for excellence, and strong support network across North and South America made them the ideal partner to deliver this exciting upgrade to Piper Meridian owners.”
Blackhawk also reached a milestone with the delivery of its 2,000th PT6A engine from Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada since Blackhawk’s founding 25 years ago.
“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 &amp; Whitney Canada,” said The Blackhawk Group CEO Chad Cundiff. “The 2000th PT6A engine delivery is proof that when you pair the right technology with the right team, performance has no limits.”

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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In this article

Piper Meridian

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