Textron Aviation debuts Cessna Denali single engine turboprop at Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (July 25, 2016) – Just one year after announcing it would bring a clean-sheet design single engine turboprop (SETP) to market, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today unveiled the Cessna Denali. A mockup of the aircraft’s cabin sits alongside a mockup of GE Aviation’s all new advanced turboprop engine at Textron Aviation’s chalet this week during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh.
“The Cessna Denali will enter the market as the superior aircraft in its segment,” said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Textron Aviation. “The Denali is already garnering interest and commitments because of its winning combination of features, including class-leading performance and ownership costs, as well as the widest and most comfortable cabin in its segment, all backed by an unrivaled global factory-direct service network.”
The Cessna Denali name captures the rugged, yet refined qualities of the high-performance single engine turboprop aircraft. The program is targeted to achieve first flight in 2018 and letters of intent are being accepted.
“The Denali will balance great handling characteristics with the enhanced capability of a high performance turboprop, making it a great step up airplane for piston owners who are ready for more performance,” said Shortt.
A high-performance, clean-sheet design
The clean-sheet Cessna Denali is being designed to outperform its competition in capability, pilot interface and ownership costs. Engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots and 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 and will be able to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami, or London to Moscow.
“Simply put, no aircraft in this class even comes close to the Cessna Denali. We are confident the Denali will quickly rise as the leader in the high-performance single engine turboprop market,” said Shortt.
The Denali will be powered by GE’s new advanced turboprop engine. The FADEC-equipped, 1,240 shaft horse power (SHP)-rated turboprop engine will ease pilot workload with its single-lever power and propeller control. The airplane will be 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 engine is designed to provide an initial 4,000 hour time between overhaul and offer class-leading performance retention for an outstanding hot/high capability.
The Denali will feature the Garmin G3000 intuitive touchscreen avionics suite and will include high-resolution multifunction displays and split-screen capability. The G3000 flight deck will include weather radar, advanced Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS), and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) capabilities, which will make it compliant with a significant aspect of future Next Generation air traffic control requirements.
Leading the passenger experience
The Cessna Denali’s flat floor cabin is designed to be the largest in its segment and will offer the versatility to easily convert between passenger and cargo configurations. The aircraft will feature a class-leading 53-inch wide by 59-inch high aft cargo door, perfect for loading large cargo and ideal for use in many special mission applications.
The Denali’s cabin will feature a standard seating configuration of six individual reclining seats and will offer a nine-place high density seating option. The aircraft will boast a digital pressurization system maintaining a 6,130 foot cabin altitude at a service ceiling of 31,000 feet. First in this class of aircraft, the Denali will offer customers an optional externally serviceable belted lavatory with pocket door enclosure that is located in the back of the cabin. Denali customers will also enjoy the large cabin windows, interior LED lighting, a forward refreshment cabinet and an in-flight accessible baggage compartment.
Unrivaled factory-direct support
Denali customers will have access to Textron Aviation’s unmatched global service network dedicated to complete life-cycle support. Textron Aviation’s support organization includes 21 company-owned service centers located around the world with expert service engineers offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, avionic upgrades, equipment installations, refurbishments and other specialized services. In addition to its company-owned footprint, Textron Aviation’s turbine customers have access to a global network of nearly 200 authorized service facilities. Textron Aviation also offers a mobile support program featuring more than 60 mobile service units, three dedicated support aircraft, and on-site service technicians and support.
Along with a five-year limited warranty covering the airframe, engine and avionics, Denali customers can enroll in Textron Aviation’s industry leading ProAdvantage programs that have been designed to provide customers lower, predictable ownership costs, while enhancing aircraft values through comprehensive factory-direct maintenance.
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information, visit txtav.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 Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Bad Boy Off Road, 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 commercial 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 continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
SOURCE & PHOTO CREDIT: Textron Aviation Inc.