Cessna Denali

The Cessna Denali, previously known as the Textron "Single Engine Turboprop" (SETP), is a single engine turboprop aircraft under development by Textron Aviation. Announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, the aircraft is a completely new design, not derived from any existing aircraft.[3] It should compete with the Pilatus PC-12 and Daher-Socata TBM, as well as other new projects such as the One Aviation Kestrel K-350 and the CAIGA Primus 150.[4]

Denali
Role Turboprop aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Textron Aviation
First flight delayed to at least 2020[1]
Introduction 2020 (forecast)[2]
Status Under development

Development

In November 2015, GE Aviation announced its General Electric Advanced Turboprop (ATP) (now General Electric Catalyst) had been selected to power the aircraft.[5] On 23 May 2016 Textron announced the SETP performance and cabin details.[6] At the 2016 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the project was named Cessna Denali.[7] In May 2017, after testing with a fuel system ground testing rig and the propeller, Textron announced it had started building static and fatigue test articles, including the aft cargo door. Flight testing was to begin in the third quarter of 2018, followed by certification in 2019.[8][9]

In February 2018, assembly of the first prototype was underway in Wichita, for a first flight scheduled to occur before the end of the year. Service entry is scheduled for 2020.[2] In May 2018 ground tests continued and all major components were being fabricated, including the nose, fuselage, wings and the tail cone.[10] Three flying prototypes were being completed for an intended first flight scheduled for early 2019.[11] By October 2018, the first prototypes fuselages and flight controls were nearly complete, and wings were starting to be constructed, towards a 2020 certification.[12] By October 2019, first flight was pushed back by slow testing of the GE Catalyst, as Textron expects its first turboprop in 2020.[1]

Design

Cabin altitude at 31,000 ft (9,400 m) should be 6,130 ft (1,870 m).[6] Its cabin is 58×63 in (147×160 cm) tall and wide with a flat floor, 3 inches (7.6 cm) wider than its closest competitor; the 59×53 in (150×135 cm) tall by wide cargo door is larger than the PC-12's 53×52 in (135×132 cm) door.[13]

Metal bonding makes the wings more leak-proof to prevent fuel leaks, and automatic drilling saves some labor. The cabin is precisely mated to other structures thanks to careful edges routing and pin-locating tools. To lower the number of holes and fasteners needed, large parts like the wing spar and main doors are monolithically machined from a single aluminum billet, or chemically milled like the titanium firewall.[12]

Specifications

Data from Cessna[14]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Capacity: 7-9 passengers/1,100 lb (499 kg) full fuel payload
  • Length: 48 ft 9 in (14.86 m)
  • Wingspan: 54 ft 3 in (16.54 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
  • Cabin Height : 58 in (1.47 m)
  • Cabin Width : 63 in (1.60 m)
  • Cabin Length : 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric Catalyst turboprop, 1,240 hp (920 kW)
  • Propellers: 5-bladed McCauley, 8 ft 9 in (2.67[13] m) diameter composite, fully feathering and reversible

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 328 mph (528 km/h, 285 kn) maximum
  • Range: 1,800 mi (3,000 km, 1,600 nmi) 1 pilot, 4 passengers, high speed cruise
  • Service ceiling: 31,000 ft (9,400 m)
  • Takeoff Distance : 2,950 ft (899 m)

Avionics

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Jon Hemmerdinger (October 22, 2019). "Textron delays Denali's first flight due to ongoing Catalyst engine testing". Flightglobal.
  2. Kate Sarsfield (February 27, 2018). "Textron Aviation closes in on Citation Longitude certification". Flightglobal.
  3. Molly McMillin (July 21, 2015). "Textron Aviation Moves Forward With Single-Engine Turboprop". The Weekly of Business Aviation. Aviation Week.
  4. Stephen Trimble (August 4, 2015). "Textron targets single-engine turboprop market". Flightglobal.
  5. Alwyn Scott (November 16, 2015). Phil Berlowitz (ed.). "GE, Textron team up to make new turboprop engine, aircraft". Business News. Reuters.
  6. "Textron Aviation reveals superior SETP performance and cabin details" (Press release). Textron Aviation. May 23, 2016.
  7. "Textron Aviation debuts Cessna Denali single engine turboprop at Oshkosh" (Press release). Textron Aviation. July 25, 2016.
  8. Chad Trautvetter (May 20, 2017). "Textron Starts Fabricating Cessna Denali Test Articles". AINonline.
  9. "Cessna Denali poised to redefine segment as first test articles come to life" (Press release). Textron Aviation. May 18, 2017.
  10. Stephen Trimble (May 28, 2018). "Denali prototypes coming together in Wichita". Flightglobal.
  11. "Textron Aviation's Cessna Denali enters new phase of development; company builds first flight test articles" (Press release). Textron Aviation. May 28, 2018.
  12. Matt Thurber (October 11, 2018). "Textron Aviation Optimistic for Future". AIN online.
  13. Matt Thurber (May 24, 2016). "Textron Aviation Firms Up Plans for New Single-engine Turboprop". AINonline.
  14. "Cessna Denali Specifications". Cessna. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
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