Just when you think you've seen it all.

https://beta.govdeals.com/asset/4/24030

There's an airplane I certainly had no idea that someone was trying to bring to existence.

$2.5m bid for an airframe with no engines?

Uh, I’m not seeing that many zeros.

They may have rejected that bid. It’s down to a reasonable 2.5 AMU.

It would be interesting if they posted the logs for the props. They may have more value than the beer can with wings.

I loved my time in the front and back of a 303. That was back in the late 80s and early 90s.

"By bidding on this item you agree that all parts or components of this aircraft are salvage material and shall not be used on or in connection with any aircraft. You also agree that you will not attempt to operate or register the aircraft with the FAA or any foreign equivalent of the same."

Given these conditions, what is the value of this auction? You pay them to haul off scrap responsibly, including draining all fluids and disposing of them responsibly? Or would someone try to sneak some spare parts into a very small market?

I bet "no engines" means "no props".

The landing gear might be the most value left.

Once you haul it off, I don't think they can enforce the "don't use the parts" aspect. The terms are just CYA.

Mike C.

We had a 303 testbed with Allison turboprops. Can't tell if this is it or not, but the serial number shown looks like a Cessna prototype serial number (there was a special set of serial numbers for prototypes).

303 with Allison turboprops sounds like a great plane. How did it work out?

It flew OK but obviously never made it into production. I believe some of the motivation was thinking about foreign countries with limited or no avgas availability. Disadvantages of these types of conversions, besides high cost, typically include insufficient fuel capacity and a reduced airspeed redline without additional testing, certification and possible design changes.

Much like the A36 Allison conversion, why would you do this with a 303?? Non-pressurized turbine at twice the price? Color me perplexed.......(and this one seems to be in my backyard...)......

Uh, I’m not seeing that many zeros.

Soo much power for such a small envelope. Extra fuel burn, might exceed Piston maintenance expenses.

Well that is odd. I wonder why they thought it was a good idea over a used Conquest. Is there a threshold for gross weight fees in europe that it could stay under? Useful load is already tight with the piston engines.

The TSIO-520AE and LTSIO in the T303 are getting hard to support. Especially the left turning version. Camshaft was really hard to find.

If there was a IO-550 STC. I believe the original dynafocal mount legs would fit the 550 case if studs were installed at those locations.

Much simpler installation.

I might add that it was a testbed and not a prototype. Prototypes require actual drawings and conformities as opposed to handwavium on a testbed. Other testbeds in this time period included the 250, the ATPTB, and the Coax, with some information on them available in a google search.

Can't be any weirder than sticking a turboprop on a Mustang, which Textron did.

Mike C.