Turboprop conversions – built and unbuilt

[Apophenia]

Convair Piston-to-Turboprop Conversions

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.

 

[Apophenia]

Douglas DC-3/C-47/Dakota Piston-to-Turboprop Conversions

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.

 

[Skybolt]

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.

 

[Apophenia]

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.

 

[boxkite]

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.

 

[Apophenia]

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.

 

[Jemiba]

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) :

 

[Apophenia]

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?

 

[boxkite]

Re: the 250-powered Bü 133. I'd love to see an image! Ditto for that turboprop Stearman.

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.)

 

[boxkite]

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)

 

[Apophenia]

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).

 

[richard]

-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"

 

[alertken]

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?

 

[Apophenia]

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

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

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

 

[robunos]

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.

 

[Skybolt]

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...).

 

[Apophenia]

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 ...

 

[Apophenia]

AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT

ADDED - list rationalized and updated. Now on page 7.

 

[boxkite]

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)
------------------

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

 

[zebedee]

Here's a good one... Fairchild C123 conversion done for the Thai air force in the late 70's early 80's...

http://www.oldwings.nl/content/c123t/c123t.htm

Now shoot me down in flames if i'm wrong, but doesn't this mean that the Provider is likely to be the only plane to have flown as Glider, Piston Prop, Turboprop and jet...?

Zeb

 

[Apophenia]

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.

 

[Skybolt]

A Mamba-powered SM-92. That's amazing. Merlins I might have expected but Mambas ... !

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 )

 

[Apophenia]

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.

 

[boxkite]

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)

 

[boxkite]

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)

 

[Just call me Ray]

likewise, Soloy also does a turbine 207:

 

[Jemiba]

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

 

[Apophenia]

Thanks guys! I've updated my earlier lists.

Cheers

 

[Apophenia]

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)

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,17817.msg170038.html#msg170038

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

 

[boxkite]

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?
---------------------

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, ..."

=> A recce version of the Ar 234 D series was selected/chosen for the installation of DB 021 turboprops, but never realized ...

 

[Apophenia]

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.

 

[boxkite]

Did we have the LoPresti Swiftfire in this section before? A Swift converted to a 450 shp Allison 250-B17C turboprop - and back to a 210 hp Continental IO-360 piston engine ...

See http://www.napanet.net/~arbeau/swift/sfire.htm

 

[Apophenia]

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

 

[boxkite]

I've added the Swift/Swiftfire (and about 30 others) to the lists on page three.

Sorry. I've searched for Swiftfire, but "No results found" was the answer. (What did I wrong, overscan?)

 

[Skybolt]

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.

 

[Apophenia]

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)"

 

[boxkite]

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)

 

[boxkite]

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

UNBUILT

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

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

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

 

[boxkite]

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)

 

[boxkite]

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 ...