Textron Aviation today announced it is realigning its turboprop
aircraft lineup as the single-engine Beechcraft Denali (previously
branded the Cessna Denali) joins the legendary twin-engine
Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360/360ER as part of the
company’s high-performance turboprop product lineup. The aircraft
development program continues to progress toward a first flight
anticipated later this year.
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the full release here:
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The single-engine Denali is a perfect
complement to this legendary family of Beechcraft products, which
are renowned for their versatility and reliability. (Photo:
Business Wire)
The Beechcraft Denali is designed and manufactured by Textron
Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.
“The Beechcraft Denali represents our continued strategy to
invest in clean-sheet and current products in both our Beechcraft
and Cessna iconic brands. Beechcraft turboprops are renowned for
their versatility and reliability, and the single-engine Denali is
a perfect complement to this legendary family of products,” said
Ron Draper, Textron Aviation, president and CEO. “Pilots and
passengers will appreciate the aircraft for its enhanced
capabilities, innovative technology and all-around passenger
comfort.”
The Beechcraft Denali is designed to outperform its competition
with projected lower operating costs, Garmin G3000 avionics, and
the largest cabin in its class. Engineered to achieve cruise speeds
of 285 knots with a full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds, the Denali
will have a range of 1,600 nautical miles at high speed cruise with
one pilot and four passengers.
“We continue to receive interest around the world from turboprop
and piston owners of competing aircraft, who are looking to move
into an aircraft with greater performance and enhanced passenger
experience,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global
Sales and Flight Operations. “The Denali will offer an outstanding
combination of lower operating costs and technological
advancements, along with the widest and most comfortable cabin in
its segment. And all of it is backed by the most extensive global
network of factory-direct service centers in the industry.”
The Beechcraft Denali development program has achieved multiple
milestones throughout the past six months as it continues to gain
momentum toward its first flight. Earlier this month, the first
Full Authority Digital Engine Controlled (FADEC) GE Aviation
Catalyst engine was installed on the first Beechcraft Denali
prototype airframe and the aircraft was powered on for the first
time. Engine runs are anticipated in August, followed by a first
flight for the aircraft projected for later this year.
Two other Denali flight test articles are also in development.
Three additional ground test articles will be used for the airframe
static and fatigue tests, and for cabin interior development and
testing. The company anticipates certification for the Denali in
2023.
“We’re making remarkable progress with the aircraft’s
development program,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president,
Engineering. “We have already achieved a number of important
milestones, and the next few months will feature a great amount of
activity as our team prepares the Denali for its inaugural
flight.”
Technological advances
The Denali is powered by GE Aviation’s new advanced Catalyst
engine, which has completed over 2,300 hours of testing and
prepping for a first flight on its Beechcraft King Air flying test
bed. The Catalyst is a more environmentally friendly engine that
burns less fuel than older turboprop technologies. The engine can
also use sustainable aviation fuel, which results in lower
emissions. The FADEC-equipped, 1,300 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated
turboprop engine eases pilot workload with its single-lever power
and propeller control. The FADEC control of the engine provides
trend monitoring, which allows for on-condition maintenance with no
mid-life Hot Section Inspection required.
The airplane is equipped with McCauley’s new 105-inch diameter
composite, 5-blade, constant speed propeller, which is full
feathering with reversible pitch and ice protection. The propeller
will undergo a series of certification tests, and several are
already underway.
The Denali cockpit features the Garmin G3000 intuitive avionics
suite featuring high-resolution and touchscreen controllers. An
integrated Garmin autothrottle is now a standard feature, which
interfaces with the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) and
Flight Management System (FMS) to provide easy speed control
throughout all regimes of flight from takeoff to touchdown.
Other G3000 features include a 10-inch weather radar, Advanced
Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS), and dual transponders
with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B)
capabilities, which are compliant with the latest air traffic
control requirements.
Class-leading passenger experience
The Beechcraft Denali’s flat floor cabin is designed to be the
largest in its segment and offers the versatility to easily convert
between passenger and cargo configurations. The Denali cabin
features a standard seating configuration of six individual
reclining seats and offers a nine-place high density seating
option.
The aircraft boasts a digital pressurization system maintaining
a 6,000-foot cabin altitude at a service ceiling of 30,000 feet.
The Denali also offers passengers the convenience of adjusting the
cabin temperature and airflow from a climate-control switch panel
located on the cabin sidewall.
Denali customers will also enjoy large cabin windows, interior
LED lighting, a forward refreshment cabinet and an in-flight
accessible baggage compartment. An optional externally serviceable
belted lavatory with pocket door enclosure that is located in the
rear of the cabin is also available.
About Textron Aviation
We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 90 years,
Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our
collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands
to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our
customers. With a range that includes everything from business
jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission,
military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the
most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the
world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all
general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170
countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and
versatility, along with our trusted global customer service
network, for affordable and flexible flight.
For more information, visit www.txtav.com |
www.defense.txtav.com | www.scorpionjet.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its
global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance
businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and
services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands
such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex,
Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation +
Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking
statements which may project revenues or describe strategies,
goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements
speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
These statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the
efficacy of research and development investments to develop new
products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching
of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new
product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products;
our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction
of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired
by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on
the export and import of our products; volatility in the global
economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely
impact demand for our products; performance issues with key
suppliers or subcontractors; difficult conditions in the financial
markets which may adversely impact our customers’ ability to fund
or finance purchases of our products; and demand softness or
volatility in the markets in which we do business.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210721005568/en/
Media Contact:
Duane Frazier +1.316.517.1114 dfrazier2@txtav.com
www.txtav.com
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