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Colemill President II - "It Feels Like A Different Airplane."
"It feels like a different airplane."
That's how Wayne Edgerton of Clive, Iowa described his B-55 Baron after it had been given the Colemill President II modification. When Edgerton bought the Baron it already had been given Colemill's President 600 conversion by the previous owner. But, Edgerton decided he wanted to move up another notch to the President II level.
The President II conversion increased cruise speeds to 10 to 12 MPH-TAS, Edgerton said. He also noted that two other major improvements he has noticed are shorter takeoff runs and a much improved climb rate. He said on a recent departure from Des Moines with two people on board he climbed out at 2000 FPM while indicating 160. He then added with a laugh, "The suggested climb speed is 140. But, when I tried to go to 140 I was getting too vertical.
Edgerton said he had noticed the shorter takeoff runs as any pilot probably would. But, he said the manager of his home field airport remarked about how much quicker the President II became airborne after watching takeoffs from the ground.
"I'm really happy with it. I can tell it's much stronger. I'm enjoying it," he added.
And, it sounds as though he plans to enjoy it a lot more. Edgerton said he was making plans to fly his President II to the Cayman Islands and later making a trip to Europe in it.
The President II is one of the three conversions Colemill offers for Barons. It is available for Baron 55 A and B models. Each President II modification includes installation of the highly reliable Continental I)-550 300 h.p. engines. These are the engines that produce a minimum of 300 h.p. - nevertheless, usually more. The I0-550 also has a heavy duty case to resist cracking and additional cylinder hold-downs for added strength. It also has an altitude compensating fuel system that automatically leans and enriches the mixture as altitude changes. The I0-550 is also the only engine Continental says is okay to run on the lean side of peak EGT.
In addition to these outstanding engines, each Colemill President II conversion also includes new three-blade props, new governors, and a Shadin Digiflow computer.
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