Texas Turbine Conversions

What Texas Turbine Conversions does

Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc. is a privately held aerospace modification company founded in 1990 and headquartered in Celina, Texas, with engineering and modification operations in Denison, Texas and an installation facility at Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria, South Africa. The company specializes in Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)-backed engine conversions that replace the stock Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines on Cessna 208/208B Caravans and DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft with factory-fresh Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop engines. Its flagship Supervan 900 conversion increases output from 675 to 900 shaft horsepower and delivers documented operational benefits including 20-35% fuel burn reduction, faster climb times to altitude, a 7,000-hour TBO, and quieter operation. The company holds FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada approvals covering both recreational and commercial IFR operations.

The company's core revenue streams are one-time engine modification sales (engine, propeller, batteries, wiring, cowlings, exhaust, and STC licensing bundled together) plus aftermarket add-on sales such as the Hartzell four-blade composite propeller and BS Designs next-generation composite propeller for the existing Supervan fleet. Branded merchandise (apparel and accessories) sold through an online storefront is immaterial to overall revenue. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales — direct engagement with aircraft operators, drop zones, and aviation companies via website inquiries, phone support, and partnerships with authorized installation facilities (Banyan Air Service in Fort Lauderdale, Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria). Customer segments are concentrated in skydiving operators (primary) and tourism/safari operators (secondary), with commercial aviation as a tertiary segment.

As of 2017 disclosures, Texas Turbine had modified over 130 aircraft globally across 10+ countries and completed its 100th TPE331-12JR conversion. Bobby Bishop serves as President. The company has no disclosed institutional investors, no M&A activity, no funding rounds, and limited public financial information. Strategic activity through 2017 centered on geographic expansion (Europe via EASA, Canada via Transport Canada, Africa via Wonderboom) and product line extensions (Hartzell composite propeller, BS Designs spin-out). The most recent observable website activity is an April 2023 business hours update, with no material strategic disclosures through the input data window.

Name

Texas Turbine Conversions

Legal name

Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc.

Website

https://texasturbines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Texas Turbine Conversions is a privately held aerospace firm that develops FAA/EASA/Transport Canada-certified engine conversion Supplemental Type Certificates, primarily its Supervan 900 upgrade for Cessna Caravans and Super Otter upgrade for DHC-3 Otters. It sells one-time modification packages directly to skydiving, tourism, and commercial aviation operators across 10+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Engine Conversions

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (33361)

SIC

Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Turboprop Engines (IMABADAB)

Keywords

• Aircraft engine conversions
• Turboprop engine modifications
• Cessna Caravan upgrades
• Aviation STC certification
• Honeywell TPE331 conversions

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Engine Modifications: One-time engine conversion sales for Cessna Caravans and DeHavilland DHC-3 Otters, including new factory-fresh engine, propeller, batteries, wiring, engine cowlings, and redesigned exhaust system
2. Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs): Certification services for engine modifications enabling legal operation of converted aircraft
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded apparel and merchandise including shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and mouse pads sold through online store

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Texas Turbine Conversions designs, certifies, and delivers complete engine conversion packages replacing original factory engines with the Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop on Cessna 208/208B Caravans (Supervan 900) and DeHavilland DHC-3 Otters (Super Otter). Each conversion is supplied under proprietary STC approvals and bundled with new propellers, batteries, wiring, cowlings, and exhaust systems. The company also sells optional composite propeller upgrades and branded merchandise directly to operators worldwide.

Product overview

Texas Turbine Conversions specializes in aircraft engine modifications and conversions, offering two primary conversion products: the Supervan 900 for Cessna 208/208B Caravans and the Super Otter for DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft. The Supervan 900 replaces the stock Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine with a Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop, increasing power from 675 SHP to 900 SHP, while the Super Otter conversion utilizes Honeywell (Garrett) TPE331 engines. Optional propellers include the Hartzell 4-blade composite propeller and the BS Designs composite-blade propeller, both designed to reduce weight and improve performance. The company also sells branded merchandise under the TTC Swag line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Supervan 900: Cessna Caravan engine conversion upgrading from Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A to Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop engine (675 SHP to 900 SHP). Also referred to as SuperVan 900 in some sources.
• Super Otter

Products and services

• Supervan 900 Engine Conversion A complete Cessna 208/208B Caravan engine conversion package that replaces the factory engine with a Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop, delivering 900 SHP, 7,000-hour TBO, 20-35% lower fuel consumption, and shorter climb times. Sold under FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada STC approvals to commercial skydiving, passenger, cargo, and charter operators.
• Super Otter Engine Conversion A complete DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter engine conversion package replacing the original engine with the Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop, supplied under STC certification and including new propeller, battery, wiring, cowling, and exhaust. Targeted at remote-region tourism, safari, and bush operators requiring reliable turbine performance.
• Hartzell 4-Blade Composite Propeller Upgrade An optional four-blade composite swept propeller for Supervan 900 conversions, co-developed with Hartzell and supplied with FAA and EASA STC coverage. Sold for new conversions and available for retrofit on existing Supervan 900 aircraft to improve climb performance and reduce noise.
• BS Designs Composite-Blade Propeller A composite-blade propeller designed for Supervan 900 conversions by partner manufacturer BS Designs. Marketed for enhanced performance and aimed at customers seeking further climb and cruise improvements beyond the standard propeller offering.
• Texas Turbine Conversions Branded Merchandise A range of Texas Turbine Conversions-branded merchandise including hats, shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets, sold directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced fuel consumption by 20-35% compared to stock aircraft
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regional.

• Hartzell PropellercoreTechnology or Integration · 30 May 2017Co-development partnership for four-blade composite swept propeller specifically designed for Supervan 900 aircraft. Hartzell received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the 110-inch diameter propeller which is 60 pounds lighter than previous propellers. The partnership combines Texas Turbine's engine upgrades with Hartzell's structural composite propeller technology.
• BS Designs, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2017New company from Supervan designers partnered with Hartzell to develop next-generation composite-blade propeller for the Supervan conversion, focusing on further performance increases.
• Wonderboom Airport (Pretoria, South Africa)regionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 April 2014Installation facility partnership enabling engine conversions in Africa. First SuperVan 900 deliveries to Africa were completed through this facility.
• Banyan Air ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 12 October 2011Fort Lauderdale-based maintenance facility partnered with Texas Turbine Conversions to perform engine upgrades on Cessna Caravans using the Supervan 900 STC. The partnership enables Florida-area customers to access installation services locally.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JetPROP: JetPROP offers PT6A engine conversion packages for piston twins (e.g., Piper Cheyenne, Duke). It is comparable to TTC as a niche STC-driven engine modification company targeting commercial and owner-operator customers.
• Blackhawk Modifications: Blackhawk Modifications specializes in engine upgrade STCs for turboprop aircraft (notably the King Air XP Engine Upgrade). Like TTC, it sells certified, performance-enhancing engine conversions to commercial operators through a direct enterprise sales motion.
• Raisbeck Engineering: Raisbeck Engineering develops and certifies STC performance upgrades for King Air and other turboprop platforms. It is comparable to TTC for its STC-based product portfolio, direct B2B sales to operators, and focus on commercial aviation improvements.
• Avcon Industries: Avcon Industries develops FAA STCs for aircraft modifications including engine conversions and nose extensions. It shares TTC's STC-based modification model targeting commercial and special-mission operators.
• Soloy Aviation Solutions: Soloy develops and certifies turboprop and turbine engine STCs for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It shares TTC's STC-driven, niche-certification business model for single-engine performance conversions.

Broad incumbents

• Pratt & Whitney Canada: Pratt & Whitney Canada manufactures the PT6A engine that the Supervan 900 replaces. It is comparable as the incumbent engine supplier whose stock installation TTC competes against, and could itself enter the performance-upgrade space.
• StandardAero: StandardAero is a major MRO and engine services provider that performs engine modifications, upgrades, and overhauls across many platforms. It is comparable to TTC as a broader incumbent offering engine upgrade pathways, though at far greater scale and platform breadth.
• Daher (TBM): Daher manufactures the TBM single-engine turboprop and offers factory performance packages. It represents a comparable high-performance single-engine turboprop OEM that competes for the same commercial operator customers as the Supervan 900.
• Textron Aviation (Cessna): Textron Aviation manufactures the Cessna Caravan, which is TTC's primary platform. It is comparable as the OEM whose airframes TTC modifies, and a potential future competitor if Textron were to offer a factory performance upgrade.

Others

• Hartzell Propeller: Hartzell Propeller is TTC's core technology partner for composite propeller development on the Supervan 900. It is comparable as an enabling supplier in TTC's integrated conversion package, though not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/texasturbines/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Texas-Turbine-Conversions/457927277586398?fref=ts
• Xx.com/Texas_Turbines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-texas-turbines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Turbine Conversions