Oracle Turbo Raven
An aerobatic airplane with a positive thrust-to-weight ratio was a dream
come true for airshow performer Wayne Handley. In 1998, he turned that
dream into a goal and succeeded in producing a one-of-a-kind show plane.
With a 750 HP turboprop engine producing 2,800 pounds of thrust, the
Oracle Turbo Raven was able to go straight up, stop, and go straight up
again. The Turbo Raven was truly state of the art. Its airframe was made
entirely of composite material. The optimization of performance was the
design goal in every construction decision while making the Turbo Raven as
strong and as light as possible. One result of this goal was a single
seat.
The engine was a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C which is used in some military
training aircraft that require the use of an inverted oil system. The
Turbo Raven had a roll rate of 450 degrees per second and a top speed of
260 knots (300 MPH) at sea level. The airplane was IFR equipped, had bleed
air heat to the cockpit and oxygen, so flying coast to coast in one day
was possible.
The Oracle Turbo Raven established itself as the fastest climbing
propeller driven airplane in the world. On January 20, 1999, Wayne took
the Turbo Raven from brake release to 3,000 meters (9,842.5 feet) in one
minute and nine seconds. This was deemed as one of the most significant
world records of the year by the National Aeronautic Association. Later
that year, during Airventure 99 at Oshkosh, WI., Wayne and the Oracle
Turbo Raven shattered the time-to-climb record to 6,000 meters with a time
of three minutes and six seconds. Along with the vertical stops and
starts, Wayne enjoyed its ability to fly out of an upright flat spin to
the left without lowering the nose below the horizon. He would add power
until the nose was 15 degrees above the horizon, then come in with right
rudder, add more power and fly out of the spin. The pilot's ability to
select reverse propeller pitch in flight was another unique feature of the
Turbo Raven. Reversing pitch turned the propeller into a big speed brake,
enabling the pilot to make extremely steep approaches. Of course, this
feature also allowed Wayne to back in and out of his parking spot - the
envy of every other airshow performer.
Wayne flew the Oracle Turbo Raven in its first airshow on Oct. 3, 1998 and
its last show on Oct. 3, 1999. During a steep approach to landing, the
engine flamed out as Wayne was bringing the propeller out of reverse and
he was unable to attain the speed necessary to flare for landing. The
airplane was destroyed and Wayne was severely injured, but has since made
a complete recovery.
