The Seawind Company has elected to complete certification of the Seawind 300C with the Continental IO-550-N and to offer the Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) as an option. Company President, Richard Silva, said the selection was based on the Continental engine meeting and exceeding the criteria of a smooth running 6 cylinder 300 horsepower engine. The IO-550-N produces 310 H.P. with no increase in weight.

“We are excited with the selection of the new power plant. It will give us increased performance, reduced pilot work load and significant fuel savings.” Silva (pictured below) explains.

“We are also following, with great interest, the progress being made in certifying this engine with FADEC for 94 octane auto gas.”

Offering the certified FADEC as an option provides the latest technology in power plant design and provides 5% more take off power as well as a 15% reduction in fuel consumption. Seawind has also selected the Hartzell Scimitar propeller which is estimated to boost performance by 3%. Combining all of these positive developments should result in an increase of over 6% in cruise power over the original 300 HP power plant. Take off power for amphibious aircraft is more critical than for land planes, with the FADEC, the certified Seawind will achieve over 11% increase in take off power. All of this is an estimate and Seawind will not increase its published performance specifications until the flight test results are confirmed and certified this fall. Instead, the proven specifications of the 300 HP kit versions will continue to be used. The Seawind is the fastest amphibian in the world having achieved 200 MPH top speed.

Silva says “During the certification process we have been paying close attention to detail. With the latest 3D modeling technology we have achieved mold and assembly tolerances within thirty thousandths of an inch. We recorded every minor improvement that we wished we could have made in the kit version and have included them into the new certified tooling. For example, an additional upgrade to the certified Seawind will result in considerable drag reduction from the new trailing link landing gear which now tucks fully into the wings.”

First articles for final flight testing will be rolled out this fall. The certified Seawind 300C should complete flight testing and certification this year.

FMI: www.seawind.net