Textron Aviation released details yesterday of their long-awaited new single-engine turbo-prop (SETP) aircraft.
The yet-to-be-branded aircraft will be designed to have cruise speeds of up to 285 knots and full fuel payload of nearly 500 kg. With a planned range of 1600 nm at high-speed cruise with one pilot and four passengers, Textron expects the aircraft will be able to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami, London to Moscow or Geneva to Istanbul.
The program is targeting first flight in 2018.
“Developed with the pilot and passenger at the forefront, we have designed this airplane to be the clear winner in this segment, from class-leading performance and ownership costs, to superior cabin comfort and versatility,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO, Textron Aviation.
“We have been intentional with every detail throughout the aircraft, resulting in an exceptional airplane that is sure to impress owners, pilots and passengers alike.”
Textron has shunned the Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engines that power their class-leading King Air and Cessna Caravan range, and opted to power the new SETP with a new General Electric 1240 SHP FADEC turbo-prop spinning a 266 cm McCauley five-blade prop.
The aircraft’s flight deck will be powered by Garmin’s G3000 touchscreen avionics and will include high-resolution MFD and split-screen capability. The G3000 avionics suite planned for the SETP includes weather radar, advanced Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS), and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) capabilities.
The new low-wing was first touted by Hawker Beechcraft in 2012, to be based on the fuselage of the Hawker Premier executive jet, but the project was put into mothballs when the company entered Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. It was revived in July last year by new company owner Textron.