The Beechcraft Denali, the single-engine turboprop from Textron powered by the GE Catalyst engine, is debuting at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This is the first airshow appearance for the Denali, which had been expected last year. A year later, the aircraft finally arrived after multiple program delays.
Lannie O’Bannion, senior VP of Sales and Flight Operations at Textron Aviation, stated, “The Demali’s clean-sheet and high-performance design is revolutionizing the single-engine turboprop market. Beechcraft turboprops are renowned for their versatility and reliability, and I’m thrilled to unveil the newest member of the legendary product family to the world.”
The Beechcraft Denali has been engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots and has a full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. A high-speed cruise will have a range of 1,600 nautical miles, and one pilot and four passengers can fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami, or London to Athens.
The Catalyst engine from GE is a more efficient FADEC-equipped turboprop engine rated at 1,300 shaft horsepower. The Catalyst features additively manufactured parts, reducing engine part count and complexity. A single-level power and propeller control ease the pilot’s workload. The engine can operate using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. It has a McCauley constant speed, five-blade, 105-inch diameter composite propeller. The propeller offers full feathering, ice protection, and reversible pitch.
Garmin’s G3000 avionics suite provides high-resolution screens and touchscreen controllers to the cockpit of the Denali. The Garmin auto-throttle is integrated with the Automatic Flight Control System and Flight Management System to provide speed control in all flight regimes from departure to arrival.
In May, Textron announced that the Denali would also be equipped with Garmin’s Emergency Autoland System as standard equipment on the aircraft. Competing aircraft, including the Daher TMB750 and Cirrus Vision Jet, are already equipped with the Garmin Emergency Autoland technology.
The Denali is equipped with six individual reclining seats on a flat-floor cabin designed to be the largest in its segment. An optional serviceable belted lavatory is available, along with a 9-seat high-density seating option. The cabin can be easily converted from passenger to cargo configurations.
The Bottom Line
The Denali has finally arrived after delays during the global pandemic. Oshkosh is the perfect debut venue for this innovative and impressive single-engine turboprop.
