Frakes Aviation Turbo Mallard

Twin Turboprop

The Frakes Turbo Mallard is a turboprop conversion of the classic Grumman G-73 Mallard amphibious aircraft, transforming the 1940s-era piston twin into a modern utility workhorse. Frakes Aviation developed the conversion in the 1960s and 1970s, replacing the original Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engines with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops, dramatically improving performance, reliability, and operating economics. The modification extended the service life of dozens of Mallards, many of which continue flying specialized missions today. The Turbo Mallard retains the original airframe's amphibious capability (hull-mounted landing gear that retracts for water operations), making it uniquely suited for remote access work where conventional runways don't exist. With seating for 10-12 passengers and a useful load exceeding 4,000 pounds, the type found a niche with government agencies, air taxi operators in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and corporate shuttle services requiring water landing capability. The turboprop engines deliver approximately 680 shaft horsepower each, enabling cruise speeds around 180 knots and significantly improved hot-and-high performance compared to the radial-engine original. The type's operational flexibility comes at the cost of complexity: amphibious gear systems, corrosion management from saltwater operations, and the challenges of maintaining a 1940s airframe design mean operating costs remain high. SkyMeter has tracked 56 flights across 13 airframes and 10 operators, with KINGFISHER AIR INC the largest observed operator.