Whale Pod and Nose Extension Retrofits Approved

Butler National Corporation subsidiary Avcon Industries, Inc., has been granted Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA04581CH, which approves the retrofitting of Textron Aviation’s King Air B300 model twin-turboprop aircraft with Avcon’s nose extension and extra-large Whale Pod modifications.

The two alterations are FAA-approved for simultaneous installation and collectively provide King Air B300 operators with approximately eighty additional cubic-feet of cargo space within a fuselage-mounted pod. The space is conducive to the accommodation of sensors, camera, and radar systems with swept volumes of up to 57 inches in diameter.  The Avcon extended nose facilitates the installation of up to a twenty-inch camera or Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor array.

Butler National Corporation president and CEO Chris Reedy stated: "The Whale Pod is uniquely designed by the Avcon aerospace engineers to minimize drag and maximize available space for King Air Operators.”

Mr. Reedy added: “Similarly, the Avcon King Air Nose Extension creates new usable space for many different applications.  I strongly encourage operators to view the two new products on the Avcon Industries website.”

Avcon president and company test pilot Marcus Abendroth set forth: "From an operator and airplane handling perspective, I have several hours flight testing the Whale Pod with the extended nose. Avcon has succeeded with optimizing the Whale Pod shape for aerodynamic performance.  The addition of the nose extension with the Avcon Whale Pod installed on the King Air 350 handles nicely.”

While the FAA ordinarily frowns upon straddling of the operational and administrative fences, Mr. Abendroth has apparently managed it.

The standard Avcon Whale Pod commands a price of $325,000. The Avcon King Air nose extension retails for $425,000.

Avcon director of sales Aric Peters asserted: "Avcon continues to enhance and grow the utility of airplanes for special missions, among other commercial operations. Avcon has many additional options that enhance the utilization of the Avcon extended nose and Whale Pod for the King Air B300.”

Mr. Peters concluded: "The Avcon lift mechanism for the extended nose and the Whale Pod are designed for generic functionality, to include retraction and extension of lights, cameras, mapping devices, sensors, among other items used for special mission operations. The Whale Pod is also capable of incorporating a drop hatch and camera port configurations. Options like camera ports and lift-mechanism pricing are in addition to the catalog pricing noted for the Avcon extended nose or Whale Pod."

FMI: www.avconindustries.com