Denali Turboprop Completes First Engine Test Runs

Textron’s Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop aircraft has completed its initial ground engine test runs and remains on course to make its maiden flight within the next three months.

The five-seat Denali can achieve cruise speeds of 330mph (530km/h) and has a range of 1,800 miles (3,000km). The aircraft features Garmin G3000 avionics and the largest cabin in its class and uses GE Aviation’s new Catalyst engine.

said Chris Hearne, senior vice president of engineering at Textron said, “These successful engine runs are a significant step toward the upcoming inaugural flight for the Beechcraft Denali, and they are a testament to the determination and collaboration from both the Textron Aviation and GE Aviation teams.

“The Denali features a technologically advanced engine that burns less fuel. It has an intuitive avionics suite that eases pilot workload and boasts the most spacious cabin in its segment. We are excited to get this aircraft into the hands of our eager customers.”

GE Aviation’s 1,300 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated Catalyst engine has completed over 2,450 hours of testing and is prepping for a first flight on its Beechcraft King Air flying test bed. The Catalyst engine is has more efficient fuel burn than older turboprop engines and can also use sustainable aviation fuel.

The Beechcraft Denali development program has achieved several milestones in recent months. Earlier this summer, GE Aviation Catalyst engine was installed on the Beechcraft Denali prototype airframe and the aircraft was powered on for the first time.

Two other Denali flight test aircraft are also in development. Three additional ground test articles will be used for the airframe static and fatigue tests, and for cabin interior development and testing. The company anticipates certification for the Denali in 2023.

Since 2012, the China Aerospace Propulsion Technology International Forum (CAPTIF) has been held in Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenyang, Chengdu, Changsha and Guiyang in turn. It has been successfully held for eight sessions, attracting more than 2000 industry experts and representatives from hundreds of enterprises in more than 20 countries around the world. Hunan aviation industry has a long history, it is not only the research and production base of small and medium-sized aero-engines in China, but also the birthplace of the first aero-engine in New China and the first fully independently developed aero-engine. It has created several firsts in the aviation industry in New China. Important member units of China's aero-engine industry have also taken root in the province. On May 2018, AECC disclosed AES100 civil turboshaft engine and AEP500 civil turboprop engine for the first time. In the future, the market prospect of civil turboshaft and turboprop aeroengines in China is broad. It is expected that by 2035, there will be nearly 3000 AES100 engines and nearly 3500 AEP500 engines.

Under this background, the 9th China Aerospace Propulsion Technology International Forum will be held in the Changsha City on November 25^th to 26^th , focuses on the "14^th Five-Year Pplan" and medium and long-term development plan, with the theme of digital and intelligent development of aviation propulsion technology, and focuses on the "safe development and green development", "simulation technology", "advanced test and test technology", "structural strength technology" of small and medium-sized civil aviation turboshafts, turboprops and piston engines "Parts design and manufacturing technology", "new materials, new processes" and "maintenance support" and other related topics, we sincerely invite your participation to contribute to the development of technology in China.Register or get in touch with Lucy for more detail.