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 completed its successful maiden flight, lasting nearly three hours and described by test pilots as "flawless."
The aircraft is powered by the new GE Aviation Catalyst turboprop engine and aims to be a high-performance, environmentally friendly single-engine turboprop with the largest cabin in its class.
This inaugural flight marks a significant milestone for Textron Aviation, kicking off the Denali flight test program in preparation for certification and customer deliveries.
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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