Buffalo Airways Electra Incident...Crew OK

[avenger2504]

No chance they could use C130 or P3 props instead?

[The Inspector]

I'm sure a P-3/Herkie person will correct me but I believe the L-188's AEROPRODUCTS props are electric and the P-3/130's Ham/Stans are hydraulic in mode of operation.

[CAPFlyer]

Some of the Zantop L-188's were refitted with Allison 501D-22H's (H= Hamilton prop), but you have to do them all, they can't interoperate because of the difference in how the props are governed. When I was at Air Tahoma, that was something I asked Bud Rude about because we were talking about the Aeroproducts props getting scarce (more an issue of not enough props with sufficient time/material left for overhaul long term than physical number) and he said any of the 501's could use the Hamilton prop, but it required a full re-rig of the prop system to work the hydromatic HamStan and that could be pretty intensive. I think that it'll be where they go eventually (the Kelwona Convair 5800s already use them), but I think as long as the Aeroproducts are available, they're going to try and stick with them as they're danged good props.

[avenger2504]

Thanks guys very informative. As usual these things come down to time and money and whether its economical to do it.