Soloy Aviation Solutions is finding increased sales demand for its FAA-certified Mk II turbine 206 conversion, thanks, in part, to the problems surrounding price and availability of 100LL, company officials said.
Dave Stauffer, Soloy’s CEO, says: “We are seeing increased activity both in sales and inquiries for our latest variant of Soloy’s turbine engine conversion to the Cessna 206 airframe, the Mark II. We continue to be cautiously optimistic that the economy is improving. But we are also realizing benefits globally due to the price and availability of 100LL fuel and the pressure that it is putting on both recreational and business users of piston powered aircraft.”
Soloy recently delivered its 85th turbine conversion to the missionary operator JAARS in April. It will be operated in Cameroon, Africa.
This spring Soloy has taken orders on two additional Mk II aircraft: a Mk II 206 scheduled for delivery to a French-based skydiving club; and another 206 that will be placed on amphibious floats domestically in the United States.
The Soloy Mk II was given FAA certification late in 2008 and is the second variant of the 206 Soloy conversion, following the introduction of the Mk I in 1984. The Mk II features a 450-hp Rolls Royce 250-B17. Soloy also provides state-of-art flight instrumentation and a Garmin G500 avionics to its Mk II package.
Soloy recently released a Mk II conversion outfitted for law enforcement observation dubbed the Sentinel. Aside from the Rolls Royce turbine conversion, the Sentinel package features a wing camera mount designed to accommodate virtually any camera, an ergonomically designed rear observer’s station with 270° articulating seat, full length LH observation window, raised headliner, four point harnesses for pilot and co-pilot as well as a much larger generator to power the additional electrical requirements.
