Textron re-brands the Denali - Australian Flying

Textron Aviation announced this week that it was shifting the in-development Denali turbo-prop from the Cessna brand to the Beechcraft brand.

The Beechcraft Denali will join the King Air 260 and 360/ER in the line-up of Beech-branded turbo-props.

"The Beechcraft Denali represents our continued strategy to invest in clean-sheet and current products in both our Beechcraft and Cessna iconic brands," said Ron Draper, Textron Aviation, president and CEO.

"Beechcraft turbo-props are renowned for their versatility and reliability, and the single-engine Denali is a perfect complement to this legendary family of products.”

Textron believes the Denali will outperform its competition and deliver lower operating costs. The panel will contain Garmin G3000 avionics and the aircraft has been engineered to achieve a cruise speeds of 285 KTAS, and with a full fuel payload of 500 kg, the Denali will have a range of 1600 nm at high speed cruise with one pilot and four passengers.

“We continue to receive interest around the world from turbo-prop and piston owners of competing aircraft, who are looking to move into an aircraft with greater performance and enhanced passenger experience,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations.

“The Denali will offer an outstanding combination of lower operating costs and technological advancements, along with the widest and most comfortable cabin in its segment. And all of it is backed by the most extensive global network of factory-direct service centers in the industry.”

The first GE Aviation 1300-shp Catalyst FADEC engine has been mated to the Denali prototype and Textron expects to complete engine runs next month ahead of the first flight scheduled for later this year.