Textron Aviation has started building the very first Cessna Denali single-engine turbo-prop, the company announced late last month.
The company said that airframe design was nearly complete and the engineering team has released the first drawings to continue assembly of test articles and prototypes as well as detail tooling, floor assembly fixtures and assembly bond fixtures. The first full airframe will be a test article used for static and fatigue testing.
“This will be the first airplane in its class to offer a FADEC-equipped engine, which will ease pilot workload, and that’s just one of the features that will make the Cessna Denali a best-in-class aircraft,” said Brad Thress, senior vice president, Engineering.
“We picked up great momentum when we debuted the Denali at last year’s Oshkosh with a great response from the marketplace, and now we’re making excellent progress in the aircraft’s development program. The team began propeller test runs and component tests with GE’s new advanced turbo-prop engine, and door fit checks with our 51-inch wide by 53-inch tall aft cargo door that special mission operators are going to love.”
The Denali will be powered by GE’s new FADEC-equipped 1240 shp turbo-prop engine. The aircraft will be equipped with McCauley’s new 105-inch diameter composite, five-blade, constant speed propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch and ice protection.
In the cockpit, the Denali will feature the Garmin G3000 intuitive touchscreen avionics suite and will include high-resolution MFDs 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) capability.
With a projected speed of 285 KTAS, a range of 1600 nm, 11 seats and a full-fuel payload of 500 kg, Textron is aiming to compete in the SETP market against the very successful Pilatus PC-12 and Daher TBM 900 series.
Textron expects the first flight of a Denali airframe next year.