COLEMILL PANTHER NAVAJO

TYPE: Re-engined Piper Navajo and C/R Navajo.

VARIANTS: Optional Zip Tip winglets included in conversion or retrofitted under Supplemental Type Certificate awarded Summer 1982. Winglets improve stability at low airspeeds down to stall and add 4-9 knots (8-16 km/h; 5-10 mph) when cruising at between 45 per cent and 65 per cent power at 3,960-7,620 m (13,000-25,000 ft), resulting in fuel savings.

DESIGN FEATURES: Basic conversion with more powerful engines, new cowlings, continuous running fuel pumps, digital fuel totaliser, wingtip-mounted landing lights, heavy duty brakes and extended wingtips takes 10-14 days. Optional Zip Tip winglets increase wing span to 13.16 m (43 ft 2 in) and wing area by 0.56 m² (6 sq ft).
Main data as for Piper Navajo in 1982-83 Jane's.
New data below refer to Panther Navajo:

LANDING GEAR: Cleveland four-spot heavy duty disc brakes.

POWER PLANT: Two 261 kW (350 hp) Textron Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD turbocharged engines, each driving a Hartzell four-blade constant-speed fully feathering metal propeller with Q-tips. Pressurised magnetos. Woodward propeller governors, synchrophasers and unfeathering accumulators standard. Fuel system as for basic Navajo, except for the addition of continuous running electrically operated fuel pumps.

EQUIPMENT: Generally as for standard Navajo, but existing fuel flow gauges are replaced by a Shadin Digiflow fuel management computer giving digital readout of fuel remaining/fuel consumed Supplemental wingtip landing lights can be operated independently of the standard nosewheel mounted landing light, prior to lowering of landing gear.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span (excl winglets): 13,00 m (42 ft 8 in)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Max power loading: 5.65 kg/kW (9.3 lb/hp)

PERFORMANCE (at max T-O weight):

  • Max level speed: 269 knots (498 km/h; 309 mph)
  • Max cruising speed, 75% power at optimum altitude: 248 knots (459 km/h; 285 mph)
  • Cruising speed, 65% power:
    • at 7,315 m (24,000 ft): 235 knots (435 km/h; 270 mph)
    • at 3,660 m (12,000 ft): 206 knots (381 km/h; 237 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L: 610 m (2,000 ft)/min
  • Rate of climb at S/L, one engine out: 122 m (400 ft)/min
  • Short-field T-O run: 229 m (750 ft)
  • T-O to 15 m (50 ft): 458 m (1,500 ft)
  • Landing from 15 m (50 ft): 427 m (1,400 ft)