The Blackhawk Group has formed a strategic collaboration with Wetzel Aviation to acquire, upgrade and resell turboprop aircraft, initially focusing on all variants of the Beechcraft King Air.

The programme centres on aircraft that can benefit from TBG’s engine upgrade STC portfolio and wider performance improvement capabilities.

Through the collaboration, customers will be able to purchase aircraft upgraded to deliver what the partners describe as “better than new” performance following comprehensive refurbishment.

Upgrade scope may include engines, avionics, airframe modifications, fresh DOC checks, cleared time items along with paint and interior refurbishment as required.

Conrad Theisen, vice president of King Air programmes for The Blackhawk Group’s Performance Center network, says: “We're looking forward to partnering with Wetzel Aviation and the opportunity to offer greater capability, value, and long-term operational benefits to our customers. This collaboration allows us to pair carefully selected aircraft with the full range of Blackhawk upgrades to create turboprops that deliver 'better than new' performance and are ready to serve their owners' missions for years to come.”

Wetzel Aviation, a Colorado-headquartered aviation consultancy and brokerage, will lead aircraft acquisition and sales, using its market knowledge and sales network to identify suitable aircraft and place them with buyers. The Blackhawk Group will carry out all upgrade work, applying its performance upgrade solutions and technical capabilities across the refurbishment process.

Bryon Mobley, president of Wetzel Aviation, says: “We are looking forward to greater collaboration with The Blackhawk Group. This allows both companies to provide a superior product, simply by doing what they individually do best. In our case, that's buying and selling an aircraft with a good pedigree. For Blackhawk, it is showcasing its ability to upgrade these aircraft to better-than-new condition.”