The Catalyst-powered Denali took flight over Kansas for the first time with the new turboprop engine married to the Denali airframe.
Courtesy: Textron Aviation
Key Takeaways:
The Beechcraft Denali successfully completed its nearly 3-hour maiden flight, powered by the new GE Aviation Catalyst turboprop engine.
Test pilots described the flight as "flawless," praising the aircraft's and engine's outstanding performance, marking an excellent start to the flight test program.
The Denali is anticipated to be a game-changer in the high-performance single-engine turboprop market, featuring a more environmentally friendly engine, the largest cabin in its class, and a projected 285-knot cruise speed.
With senior experimental test pilot Peter Gracey and chief test pilot Dustin Smisor at the controls, the first Beechcraft Denali took to the skies in Wichita, Kansas, at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday from Textron Aviation’s west campus at Eisenhower International Airport.
The Denali flew for the first time behind the clean-sheet-design GE Aviation Catalyst turboprop powerplant.
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