Textron Aviation will resurrect the concept of a new single-engine turbo-prop aircraft that was first mooted as a Beechcraft project three years ago.
The idea was first announced in 2012, but shelved after Beechcraft hit more financial turmoil.
"Textron Aviation has been listening to the market and sees an opportunity to fulfill a gap in our broad product line, so we are moving forward with plans to enter the single engine turbo-prop segment," a Textron spokesperson told Australian Flying yesterday.
"We intend to outperform the competition with the introduction of this product – from cabin size and acquisition cost, to performance capability.
"By leveraging the newest technologies, we expect this aircraft to have a range of more than 1500 nautical miles and speeds in excess of 280 knots, while offering best in class operating costs."
Whereas the orginal Beechcraft concept was to be based on a Beech Premier business jet airframe, Textron says the new SETP will be a clean-sheet design, although it is known that Cessna has had another SETP project going in the past.
Given the ongoing relationship that Textron has with Pratt & Whitney with the Caravan series and the King Air series, the engine is most likely to be a PT6.
Textron says it plans to have an aircraft for potential customers to inspect at Airventure 2016.