Textron Aviation today announced its new single-engine
turboprop, the Beechcraft Denali, took to the skies for the first
time. The milestone first flight is a major step for the
clean-sheet design aircraft and begins the important flight test
program that substantiates the segment-leading performance expected
of the Denali.
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The Beechcraft Denali made its first
flight from the Textron Aviation's west campus at Eisenhower
International Airport in Wichita Tuesday morning. (Photo: Business
Wire)
The Beechcraft Denali is designed and manufactured by Textron
Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.
“Today’s landmark flight is not only a significant occasion for
the Denali, it’s a truly great moment for our employees, our
suppliers and the customers who will be flying this aircraft,” said
Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “With its more
environmentally friendly engine and largest cabin in its class,
this is an aircraft that will change the landscape for
high-performance single-engine turboprop aircraft. Today’s flight
is just the beginning for what we anticipate will be a long list of
important accomplishments as we prepare the aircraft for
certification and customer deliveries.”
Piloted by senior test pilot Peter Gracey and chief test pilot
Dustin Smisor, the Beechcraft Denali prototype aircraft,
powered by GE Aviation’s new Catalyst engine, took off at
approximately 8:20 a.m. from the company’s west campus at
Eisenhower International Airport. During the 2-hour and 50-minute
flight, the team tested the aircraft’s performance, stability and
control, as well as its propulsion, environmental, flight controls
and avionics systems. The aircraft reached an altitude of 15,600
feet and attained speeds of 180 knots.
“From the beginning of the flight to the end, the Denali was
simply flawless,” Gracey said. “It’s just a great aircraft to fly.
The Catalyst engine was outstanding, and the aircraft performed to
the levels we were anticipating. First flights really can’t go more
smoothly than this. We are really off to an excellent start for the
Denali flight test program.”
The Denali prototype aircraft, along with two additional flight
test articles and three full airframe ground test articles, will
continue to expand on operational goals, focusing on testing
aircraft systems, engine, avionics and overall performance. The
company is targeting certification for the Denali in 2023.
About the Beechcraft Denali
Engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots and full fuel
payload of 1,100 pounds, the Denali is designed to have a range of
1,600 nautical miles at high-speed cruise with one pilot and four
passengers and will be able to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New
York to Miami or London to Moscow.
The Denali is the first aircraft powered with GE’s Catalyst
engine, a more sustainable engine that burns up to 20 percent less
fuel than older turboprop technologies. Like the company’s other
aircraft, the Denali can also use sustainable aviation fuel. The
FADEC-equipped, 1,300 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated turboprop engine
eases pilot workload with its single-lever power and propeller
control.
The airplane is also 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 cockpit features the Garmin G3000 intuitive avionics suite
with 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.
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 cabin features a
standard seating configuration of six individual reclining seats
and offers a nine-place high density seating option. Passengers
will also enjoy large cabin windows, a forward refreshment cabinet
and an in-flight accessible baggage compartment. An optional
externally serviceable belted lavatory 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.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211123006078/en/
Media Contact: Duane Frazier +1.316.517.1114
dfrazier2@txtav.com www.txtav.com
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