Yes, there are people who want a Model T Ford too. But the
only advantage a piston engine has over a turbine is low
altitude fuel consumption.



"Greg Farris" wrote in message
...
| In article ,
| says...
|
|
| Jim pretty much hit the nail on the head.
| During WWII there were a huge number of radial engines
produced, more than
| were needed. The surplus engines were readily available
until recently.
| The current trend of ag and seaplane operators switching
to PT6's is
| primarily a direct result of the depletion of the
inventory of WWII era new
| pickled engines. As they became harder and harder to
obtain, operators were
| forced to choose between overhauls, rebuilds, new
radials, and PT6s. Our ag
| operator was simply not satisfied with high price and
high maintenence of
| the new raidals nor the quality of the overhauled and
rebuilt engines,
| cylinders, and other components and has began the switch
to PT6s.
|
|
|
|
| Meanwhile - I've seen KingAir conversions replacing the
PT6's with
| water-cooled V8's!They make all kinds of claims for
performance improvements.
|
| GF
|