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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 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. 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. Specifications and Performance
Paint Colors: PPG's Deltron Flame Red DBU76481ALT, Dark Blue "Raven" DBU4429, Gold DBU84264 Home | Airshows | Sponsors | Aerobatic Instruction | Archive | Links | Contact |
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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. 
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. 