Piper PA-31-350 Colemill Re-Engined Navajo Chieftan VH-MJA

Photo taken by Jamie C  ©

Gladstone plane spotter Jamie C recently sent through some photos of (now) Toowoomba-based Piper PA-31-350 VH-MJA.  VH-MJA has been a familiar sight at Central Queensland airports in the past, with the once Emerald-based aircraft spotted at Clermont Aerodrome on Monday 2 June 2008.

Since then, VH-MJA has undergone a rare Colemill engine conversion - including the addition of winglets.

Photo taken by Jamie C  ©

The rare Colemill Panther engine conversion gives the Navajo a pair of 350hp (261 kW) Lycoming TIO-540-J2B engines, 4-blade "Q-Tip" propellers and the optional winglets. This conversion was designed by Colemill Enterprises of Nashville, Tennessee in the United States of America.