Page 6 - May 2022

Captiva Services is a family business; Ben builds the high-end va- cation homes while his wife Christel decorates the interiors.
(Courtesy photo)
the aircraft’s engine. Instead, the aircraft is cooled using a vapor cycle system and evaporator/blower unit plugged into a dedicated ground power unit. Giles had the company’s Tampa Service Center make that modification before returning the aircraft to service.
FL-586 is likely one of the first older King Air serial numbers to have the ground cooling system installed, a feature coveted on Florida’s hot ramps. It is certainly one of the most rejuvenated 14-year-old models, with Blackhawk Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A- 67A engines capable of producing 1,050 SHP up to 25,000 feet, 5-blade natural composite MT-Propellers, lithium-ion battery, Pro Line Fusion avionics and the entire list of upgrades Giles mentioned.
Giles is a relative newcomer to business aviation ownership. A friend who flew a 1992 King Air 350 took him along on several recreational flights in 2015, fueling his interest in flying privately. He purchased
a share of a Pilatus PC-12 single-engine turboprop through the fractional aircraft ownership program PlaneSense but always felt like he needed more room. When that ›
Among the laundry list of upgrades Giles made to FL-586, installing Blackhawk Pratt & Whitney Can- ada PT6A-67A engines and 5-blade propellers has been among the most noticeable – from improved climb rate to jet-like speed and a quieter cabin. (Photo courtesy Textron Aviation Indianapolis Service Center)
4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
MAY 2022