FairChild Aerospace Merlin IIIC Specs and Description

Background/History

The Merlin series of turboprop executive transports was Swearengen’s first manufacturing program and laid the foundation for the successful Metro series of commuter aircraft. The Merlin II series combines the wing of the Beech Queen air with the twin Bonanza’s undercarriage and an all new Swearengen-designed pressurized fuselage and tail. The Merlin IIA first flew in 1965 powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 turboprop engine. After 33 aircraft, production switched to the Allied Signal TPE331 engine on the IIB. The improved and somewhat larger Merlin III series combines the Merlin II’s slightly stretched fuselage with a new tail and the wings and landing gear of the Metro II commuter airliner, and was certified in July 1970. The Merlin IIIC, certified in1981, utilizes two Garrett TPE331-1OU-503G turboprop engines driving four-blade, constant-speed Dowty propellers. Production of the IIIC ended in 1983 after a total of 113 aircraft had been built.

Power

The Merlin IIIC, SA-227-TT, is powered by a pair of Honeywell TPE331-1OU-503G turboprop engines rated at 900shp driving four blade, constant speed, reversable Dowty propellers. Inspection interval on the engines is 5,400 hours.

Avionics

A typical avionics installation for a Merlin IIIC could consist of a Collins FDS 84 flight director system, Collins APS 80 autopilot, dual Collins VHF 20A comms and VIR 30A navs, ADF 60, DME 40, dual TDR 90 transponders, ALT 55 radar altimeter, and WXR 300 color weather radar.

Design Features

The Merlin IIIC is a designed as a cantilever low-wing monoplane of aluminum monococque construction with a pressurized cabin and a cruciform tail assembly. The tricycle landing gear is the same as that on the Metro II and has dual wheels on both the main and nose gear. An airstair door is located aft of the wing on the port side of the fuselage. The wing assembly on the Merlin IIIC is also borrowed from the Metro II design and features double slotted trailing edge flaps.

Accomodations

The Merlin IIIC is normally configured to seat eight passengers in an executive/corporate arrangement or nine in a high-density layout. A small aft lavatory and galley/refreshment center are usually located opposite the cabin entry way which is located aft of the wing on the port side of the fuselage. Cabin dimensions are 10.6ft in length, 5.2ft in width and 4.8ft in height.