Conroy Tri-Turbo-Three

Tri-Turbo-Three
Tri-Turbo-Three at Farnborough Airshow in 1978.
Role	Airliner
Manufacturer	Conroy Aircraft
First flight	May 13, 1969
Retired	May 1986 (First Tri-Turbo-Three)
Status	Retired
Primary user	Polair Maritime Patrol & Rescue
Number built	2
Developed from	Conroy Turbo Three

The Conroy Tri-Turbo-Three was a Douglas DC-3 fitted with three Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engines by Conroy Aircraft; the third engine was mounted on the nose of the aircraft. It first flew on November 2, 1977.^[1] The cruise speed of the aircraft was increased to 230 miles per hour (370 km/h). The engine mounted on the nose could be shut off, decreasing the speed to 180 miles per hour (290 km/h) and increasing the range of the aircraft. It was used by Polair and Maritime Patrol And Rescue. It was fitted with skis for use in Polar regions and flew in the North Pole region out of Resolute Bay Canada. It was uniquely suited for flying long distances and landing on rough, unprepared snow runways. It provided support to the first non-government expeditions to Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and was instrumental in opening up the interior of Antarctica to private expeditions and tourism*. In early May 1986 workers at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport accidentally started a fire in the cockpit of the aircraft, which destroyed the cockpit. A second Tri-Turbo-Three was then manufactured out of the wreckage of the old plane and a different airframe.

References

1. ^ Air International November 1978, p. 252.

• "Airdata File: Specialized Aircraft Tri Turbo-3". Air International, November 1978, Vol 15 No 5. p. 252.
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