Beechcraft Denali enters Flight Test Phase with Landmark First Flight

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 & begins the important flight test program that substantiates the segment-leading performance expected of the Denali.

The Beechcraft Denali is designed & 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 & the customers who will be flying this aircraft,” said Ron Draper, president & CEO, Textron Aviation. “With its more environmentally friendly engine & 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 & customer deliveries.”

Piloted by senior test pilot Peter Gracey & 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 & 50-minute flight, the team tested the aircraft’s performance, stability & control, as well as its propulsion, environmental, flight controls & avionics systems. The aircraft reached an altitude of 15,600 feet & attained speeds of 180 knots.

The Denali prototype aircraft, along with two additional flight test articles & three full airframe ground test articles, will continue to exp& on operational goals, focusing on testing aircraft systems, engine, avionics & overall performance. The company is targeting certification for the Denali in 2023.

About the Beechcraft Denali
Engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots & 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 & four passengers & 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 & 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 & ice protection.

The cockpit features the Garmin G3000 intuitive avionics suite with high-resolution & touchscreen controllers. An integrated Garmin auto throttle is now a standard feature, which interfaces with the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) & Flight Management System (FMS) to provide easy speed control throughout all regimes of flight from take-off to touchdown.

Class-leading passenger experience
The Beechcraft Denali’s flat-floor cabin is designed to be the largest in its segment & offers the versatility to easily convert between passenger & cargo configurations. The cabin features a standard seating configuration of six individual reclining seats & offers a nine-place high density seating option. Passengers will also enjoy large cabin windows, a forward refreshment cabinet & an in-flight accessible baggage compartment. An optional externally serviceable belted lavatory in the rear of the cabin is also available.

Find out more at: www.media.txtav.com