Turboprop conversions – built and unbuilt

Convair Piston-to-Turboprop Conversions

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.
 
Douglas DC-3/C-47/Dakota Piston-to-Turboprop Conversions

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.
 
Well don't know if it can be described a a "conversion" or a "new version", but I'd mention the SIAI SF-260TP. I have a photo of the model somewhere.
 
Yes, I was also wondering whether the SF-260TP was a conversion or new-build (it would make sense to do a prototype conversion but I'm just not sure). Same goes for the Piaggio P66T/P.166DL3.

The SF-1260TP puts me in mind of the Valmet L-80 TP/L-90. I'm fairly sure that the prototypes were built as such rather than being L-70 Vinka conversions.
 
Good job, Apophenia. What do you think on an magazine article on all these conversions ;) .

Here is another one:

Around 1992 a Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister was fitted with an Allison turboprop engine.

If somebody is interested, I would dive into my FLUG REVUE piles to find pictures and detailed information.
 
Thanks boxkite!

About magazine articles. I am a full-on pixel zealot. These days, sites like Secret Projects are far more valuable to me than my magazine collection.

Now, didn't somebody mention a SP online magazine spin off? ;D

Re: the 250-powered Bü 133. I'd love to see an image! Ditto for that turboprop Stearman.
 
Ray had already shown this type, just found a 3-view in RAF Flying Review
January 1963 of the North American RS-28 (or YAT-28) :
 

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Nice one Jens.

Interesting that both the NA-284/RS-28/YAT-28E and the AIDC T-CH-1 Chung Hsing both used Lycoming turboprops -- YT-55L and T53-L-701 respectively. Obviously, the 2445 shp RS-28 would have been much more potent.

Does anyone know if the T-CH-1 a conversion or new-build?
 
Re: the 250-powered Bü 133. I'd love to see an image! Ditto for that turboprop Stearman.
Click to expand...

Here is the ‘beast’ – air-to-air picture is from FLUG REVUE 1/1992, turboprop Bücker on the ground was published in No. 4/1992 of the same magazine. Sam Burgess from New Braunfels/Texas was the man behind the machine. The idea was born, when he saw Doug Champlin’s Great Lakes X2T-1T (http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepGreatLksTrbn.html) in the beginning of the 1980’s. First flight was on 8th August 1989. For a while the turbo-prop Bücker was the world record holder in its class (http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/history.asp?id1=18&id2=39&id3=3) .

Btw, the plan to fit a Boeing Stearman with a P&W PT6 was also Sam Burgess’s brainchild – but I don’t know if he realized its dream of such a conversion …

(Sorry for the fold in pic # 3.)
 
Another candidate (probably never left the drawíng board):

The Canadian company Field Aviation had planned a turboprop Consolidated Catalina in 1966.

SOURCE: Wegg: General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors (Conway Maritime Press, 1990 / page 77)
 
Thanks boxkite. Wild exhaust on that Bü 133!

Interesting to know that Field was working on a conversion (Field Bros did lots of the Canso waterbomber conversions). I had heard rumours of a 4 x PT6 Canso conversion. That may have just been a garbled version of ChuckAnderson's posted 4-engined PBY.

A few more ...

Lockheed R7V-2 (4) and YC-121F (2) Super Constellations with 4 x P&W YT34-P-12A /-6

The R7V-2s were converted while still on the production line (I guess that makes 'em new-builds). One YC-121F briefly converted to Allison 501Ds as Lockheed testbed.

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/4701.htm

Curtiss CW-20G / XC-46C / XC-113 - CW-20G testbed with starboard GE TG-100 (R-2800 retained in port nacelle).
 
-Mc Kinnon Turbo Goose from "Aviation Magazine" 1967 (N150M)
-Marshall Goose from "Flying Review" 1970 (G-ASXG)
-Basler Aviation BT-67 from the excellent "Flugzeuge der Welt 2007"
 

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Frakes G-73T Turbo(PT-6)-Mallard for Chalks.
Didn't P&W(C) put a turboprop on the nose of their B.720 FTB?
Lancaster and Lincoln NGTE FTBs.

If C-47 and CV340 could take grunt without ripping off wings, why not DC-4/6/7 or L-749/1049/1649? T-34/RR Tyne?

CL-28 Argus was a conversion the other way, turbo to recip. Was that unique?
 
I forgot to include the Grummans...

Turbo Goose (TPE 331 or PT6)
Not sure about the "Super Goose" is that just a Turbo-Goose confused with the Super Widgeon?

Antilles Seaplanes of North Carolina was supposed to be putting the G-21 back into production. http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/about.htm

Frakes G-73T Turbo Mallard (PT6s)

Conroy Turbo Albatross G-64 (Darts)
http://www.rob.clubkawasaki.com/jas4443.jpg

(Personally, I prefer boxkite's unbuilt 4 x PT6 Grumman G-xxx turboprop Albatross)
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1115.0.html

alertken said:
... CL-28 Argus was a conversion the other way, turbo to recip. Was that unique?
Click to expand...

TURBOPROP TO PISTON

Bristol Britannia (Proteus) to Canadair CL-28 Argus (R-3350)

Convair XP-81 Silver Bullet was designed for the GE XT31 turboprop, built with a V-1650-7 Merlin before finally receiving its XT31-GE-1.

Gafhawk GAF-125 prototype (PT6A-45 with 5-bladed Harzell) converted to ASz-62 with four-bladed PZL prop. http://www.oldwings.nl/content/gafhawk/gafhawk.htm

Miles Marathon II (Mambas) re-engined with Leonides radials as a Handley-Page Herald test-bed.

Sud Aviation SE.117 Voltigeur (Turboméca Bastan) planned Wright R-1300-C7BA1 Cyclone-7 version
 
how about the Federal Aircraft Factory C-3605 Shlepp target tug?

http://avia.russian.ee/air/switzerland/faf_c-3605.php

surely the longest nose in the business?.......... ;D

cheers,
Robin.
 

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I cannot post the drawings (you know, my book...) but I can say that in 1948 SIAI Marchetti planned a version of the SM-92 optimized for strike with two Mambas. Rumours have it that a middle-eastern nation was interested (Egypt or Israel or both...).
 
A Mamba-powered SM-92. That's amazing. Merlins I might have expected but Mambas ... !

A few additions:

PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-130 Orlik (Vedeneyev M-14P) to PZL-130T Turbo Orlik (PT6A-25) to PZL-130TM Orlik (M601E).

Pilatus PC-6 Porter (Lycoming IGO-540) to PC-6/A Turbo-Porter (Turboméca Astazou) and PC-6/B Turbo-Porter (PT6A), and PC-6/C Turbo-Porter (TPE 331)

Dornier Do 27 Q4 (Lycoming O-470-K) to Do 27 T1 (Turboméca Astazou)

Dornier Do 28 (IO-540) to Dornier TNT (TPE 331), Do 28-5X TurboSky prototype (Lycoming LTP 101-600-1A then PT6A-110), and production Do 128-6 Turbo Skyservant (PT6A-110).

Piper PA-31-50 Navajo Chieftain (IO-540) to Embraer N-821 Caraja (PT6A-27) and PA-31T Cheyenne (PT6A-28).

Westland Wyvern Eagle 22 to AS Python.

Greenwich Aircraft (Waco, TX) DC-3 (PT6A-67R). Also long range fuel systems.

Aggies to follow ...
 
AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.
 
Apophenia said:
I was thinking that listings of piston-to-turboprop conversions might be useful. A handful that come to mind are listed below. Others I'll group.

Antonov An-3T (TVD-20 in place of An-2's ASh-62)

Boeing C-97 testbeds for Douglas C-133 (R4360s replaced with P&W T34-P-7s)
Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine (B377's R-4360 replaced by Allison T56s)
Tracor Aviation 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine (Allison T56-501-D22Cs)

Federal Aircraft Factory C-3605 (C-3603 conversions with T53 replacing HS12Y)

Pilatus PC-3-06 (Lycoming replaced by PT6 to form PC-7)

YT-34C (T-34Bs with O-470s replaced by PT6s to act as T-34C prototypes)

Ryan XFR2-1 (FR-1 Fireball R-1820 replaced by GE XT-31)

North American Mustang conversions
- Australian (Dart, unflown, reconverted to Merlin)
- Cavalier Turbo Mustang III (Dart 510)
- Piper PA-48 Enforcer (Lycoming YT55-L-9)

Cessna 205/206/207 (Soloy conversions to R-R Allison 250)

Grumman S-2 Tracker - Conair Turbo-Firecat (PT6), Marsh Turbo Tracker (TPE331)
------------------
Click to expand...

An addition to the S-2: Israel Aircraft Industries S-2UP Tracker

Source:
JAWA 1992-93/page143
JAWA 1993-94/p184
JAWA 1993-94/p689 -> picture
 
You've gotta be right zebedee. And add to that, mixed jet/piston power of course.

XG-20 -- glider
YG-18A/YC-122 -- R-2000s
YC-122C -- R-1820s
XC-123 -- R-2800s
XC-123A -- 4 x J-47s
YC-123B/C-123J -- R-2800s + wingtip J44R3 turbojets
C-123K -- R-2800s + underslung J85 turbojets
YC-134 -- Wright R-3350s (YC-134A with Pantobase)

Unbuilt was an early '60s Provider follow-up concept with four T-64s.
 
A Mamba-powered SM-92. That's amazing. Merlins I might have expected but Mambas ... !
Click to expand...
SIAI Marchetti in 1948 started discussions with Armstrong-Withworth for a rather boroad partnership, including, besides using Mambas, license-producing the A-W Apollo transport and passenger plane (and this is an absolute novelty, I think ... 8) ;D )
 
Wow! Interesting to speculate about how that turboprop SM.92 might have looked.

Mention of the Mamba made me think of the Boulton-Paul Balliol -- another turboprop-to-piston evolution (or, more accurately, a piston-to-turboprop-to-piston evolution).

P.108 Balliol prototype (VL892) with 820hp Mercury 30 radial
http://www.historicaircraft.org/British-Aircraft/pages/Boulton-Paul-P108.html

Finalized P.108 Balliol prototypes with 1010 shp Mamba (VL917 and VL935)
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/APS/1962L.jpg

Production Balliol T.2 with 1245hp Merlin 35.
 

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A Czech 'entry':
LET L-300 -> unbuilt turboprop-engined L-200 Morava

SOURCE: "Flugzeuge von A-Z" vol III (page 26/unfortunately no drawing or so)
 
Another Cessna 207 conversion to a turboprop airplane was realized by MacAvia company called Turbine 207.

SOURCES:
JAWA 1992-93
JCMAU 1993-94 (page 290 -> picture)
JAWA 1991-92 (page 431 -> picture)
 
likewise, Soloy also does a turbine 207:

soloy.jpg
 
Already mentioned before ?
The Kawasaki built P2V-Kai, the japanese version of the Lockheed Neptune.
(from Squadron Signal N° 68)
 

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Okay, thanks Jens.

------------------

JET TO TURBOPROP CONVERSIONS

Gloster Trent-Meteor (converted F MkI EE227)

Boeing XB-47D testbed (4 of 6 J47s replaced by Curtiss Wright YT49-W-1 turboprops)

McDonnell XF-88B Voodoo -- prototype XF-88 with nose-mounted Allison XT-38A turboprop (in addition to original twin XJ34s).

Boeing 720-023B testbed (PWC's C-FETB with nose-mounted PW127)

Evolution

Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech" (based on F-84F Thunderstreak, two prototypes, Allison XT-40-A-1).

UNBUILT

Arado Ar-234 PTL turboprop (Ar-234D with DB 109-021 in place of HeS 011s)

Messerschmitt Me-262B-2 turboprop (DB 109-021 in place of Jumo 004s)

Fouga CM.178 (CM.170 Magister trainer and attack derivatives powered by two Astazous)

Gloster Mamba-Meteor (2 x Armstrong-Siddeley Mamba turboprops), 1947 proposal
- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...s-–-built-and-unbuilt.1070/page-6#post-411478

Martin Model 247-1 four XT-40A turboprop derivative of 6 x J35 XB-48 bomber.

---------------------

Is this getting unwieldy SOC? ;D
 
Last edited:
Apophenia said:
UNBUILT

Arado Ar-234 PTL turboprop (DB 109-021 in place of Jumo 004s) *

Messerschmitt Me-262 turboprop (DB 109-021 in place of Jumo 004s) *

* Were these real projects or Luft46 projections?
---------------------
Click to expand...

Jörg Kranzhoff wrote in his "Arado. Geschichte eines Flugzeugwerkes" (ISBN 3-925505-27-X):
"Zustande kamen ebenfalls nicht ein mit DB 021-Turboprop-Triebwerken ausgestatteter Aufklärer der Baureihe Ar 234 D, ..."
Click to expand...
=> A recce version of the Ar 234 D series was selected/chosen for the installation of DB 021 turboprops, but never realized ...
 
Thanks for the confirmation boxkite.

It makes sense. The Ar-234D was to have HeS 011s and the DB 109-021/HeS 021 were PTL-Varianten of the HeS 011 ...

I've corrected the Ar-234 engine type.
 
Thanks boxkite! I've added the Swift/Swiftfire (and about 30 others) to the lists on page three.

Also added the unbuilt Martin Model 247-1 to the jet-to-turboprop list on this page
 
Apophenia said:
I've added the Swift/Swiftfire (and about 30 others) to the lists on page three.
Click to expand...

Sorry. I've searched for Swiftfire, but "No results found" was the answer. (What did I wrong, overscan?)
 
Just a note on the SIAI SF-260TP: the prototype will be exhibited in the new Museo dell'Aeronautica at Vizzola Ticino, near Malpensa. Civilian registration is I-TURB. The aircraft has been already transported there. It lacks the engine and the engine cover (this last I know where can be found). On Saturday I'll post photos of the Museo's restricted preview.
 
boxkite,

I just repeated that search and only got your post.

Anyway, the entry on page three reads:

"Globe Swift (IO-360) to LoPresti Swiftfire (N23368, Allison 250-B17C then back to IO-360)"
 
A Lycoming T53 was to be installed in the McDonnell XV-1 compound, but this plan was never realized.

SOURCE: "Hubschrauber und Tragschrauber" ("Die deutsche Luftfahrt" vol 3) by Gersdorff & Knobling, third (& revised) edition, 1999, ISBN 3763761152 (page 114)
 
Apophenia said:
------------------

UNBUILT

Messerschmitt Me-262 turboprop (DB 109-021 in place of Jumo 004s)

---------------------
Click to expand...

Stephen,

I'm still looking for a turboprop Me 262, meanwhile I've found references to a turboprop Me 264 project (2 x BMW 028 / 2 x 5.440 hp) and a jet Me 264 (4 x Jumo 004C or 2 x BMW 018 / 2 x 3.500 kp). 'Top of the Pops' was the project of a Me 264 with a steam turbine/engine (1 x 6.000 hp), driving two airscrews. The fuel: 65 % coal and 35 % crude oil ... What a hard job for the stoker ;D
 
Sorry, I've forgotten the SOURCE for all, who wants to read the details:

"Die deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-45" by Nowarra, vol 3, page 234 (ISBN 3763754679)
 
Apophenia & ChuckAnderson,

Back again to the Turbo-Canso: a Consolidated PBY-5A "Canso" has been converted to turboprops by a company named Trans-Caribbean at the Bahamas.

SOURCE: Jane's 1970-1971

PS: Trans-Caribbean company wasn't mentioned in Bill Gunston's "Aircraft Manufacturers" book ...
 

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