Kestrel Aircraft Company of Maine said this week at EAA AirVenture they have chosen the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine to power their new all-composite, single-engine turboprop airplane. "Customers want lower maintenance costs, fewer life-cycle-limited parts and better fuel efficiency when they select an aircraft engine," said Rob Wilson, president of Honeywell Aerospace's Business and General Aviation business. The TPE331 can deliver those benefits, Wilson said. The TPE331-14GR produces 1,759 thermodynamic horsepower, but Kestrel said they will flat-rate the engine to approximately 1,000 shaft horsepower to allow for better high-altitude, high-temperature performance.
Kestrel Aircraft is a new airplane company led by general aviation entrepreneur, Alan Klapmeier, one of the co-founders of Cirrus Aircraft. Based on the original work done by Farnborough Aircraft, the Kestrel all-composite, single-engine turboprop will have seats for six to eight. AVweb's editor-in-chief Russ Niles spoke with Kestrel's Steve Serfling about the engine at AirVenture; click here to listen to the podcast.
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