| Soloy Pathfinder 21 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Twin Turboprop |
| Manufacturer | Cessna/Soloy |
| Status | uncertified test bed |
| Number built | 1 |
| Variants | Cessna 208 |
The Soloy Pathfinder 21 is a twin engined, single propeller turboprop aircraft manufactured by Soloy Aviation Solutions, and based on the successful Cessna 208 airframe. The aircraft is essentially a stock Cessna 208 airframe that has been stretched by 72 inches, with structural reinforcement, and is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6D-114A engines in a DualPack configuration (the PT6T?).
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Soloy constructed a prototype Pathfinder 21 (N5010Y, cn 208B0304) that first flew in 1995. The twinpack PT6D-114A engine used in the Pathfinder 21 gained its FAA Supplementary Type Certificate (SE00482SE) in 1997.[1] Soloy was attempting to obtain FAA certification for the aircraft conversion, but after completing over 80 percent of the certification work Soloy announced that they were halting the entire program. The CEO explained that the FAA requires aircraft with over 9 passengers to have the airframe meet tougher restrictions required by FAR Part 25, which isn't possible since the base aircraft, the Cessna 208 does not meet those requirements. This requirement makes it unfeasible to market the airplane as the expanded passenger cabin is a major reason for the stretch to begin with.[2] The prototype has not flown since 1999.
Data from Soloy[3]
General characteristics
Performance
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