Textron Aviation’s second Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop flight test article has successfully completed its first flight. The flight lasted two hours and one minute, reaching an altitude of 15,500 feet and a top speed of 240 knots. According to Textron, its Denali flight test program has currently logged more than 250 flight hours.
“This flight is another vitally important step for the Beechcraft Denali program as the aircraft will be used primarily for testing aircraft systems like avionics, cabin environmental control and ice protection,” said Chris Hearne, Textron Aviation senior vice president for engineering and programs. “The team has made great progress, accomplishing key goals in the flight test program, and the Denali team heads into the second half of 2022 with a great deal of momentum.”
As previously reported by AVweb, the first Beechcraft Denali prototype completed its initial flight in November 2021. The Denali is expected to have a top cruise speed of 285 knots, range of 1,600 NM and full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. The aircraft, which will be capable of seating up to nine passengers, is powered by the GE Catalyst engine and equipped with the Garmin G3000 avionics suite.
Looks like a PC-12 to me.
Definitely copied someone’s homework!
More like a single-engine King Air.
Would love to see how that engine performs against the PT-6
Pilatus and Cessna encroaching in each others’ sandboxes.
Beechcraft not Cessna
Same owners now?
One and the same. Originally it WAS called a Cessna, but they changed it to Beechcraft.
Looks like a single engine King Air
A free market is a wonder thing.
God bless.
Why do marketing people choose obscure names that many products use?
There’s already ‘Denali’ label on trucks, clothing, …. (The clothing company is in the eastern US – rather far from Denali Park in Alaska and the tribal people who the name comes from (a big mountain there). !)
Good point. It’s a not a very inspired name.
Now that the Denali is a Beechcraft, I would have liked it better if they chose a name from the list of royal titles. How about Prince Air, Count, Viscount, or Earl? There are many choices that would be better for a Beechcraft.
Should call it the Beech “Monarch”. Looks like a single-engine KA-90…. makes lots of sense.
I like Monarch. It’s better than my suggestions.
And of you like Dad Jokes…
The Monarch Better Fly.
Joke of the week!