Textron Aviation has made significant progress in bringing the Cessna Denali to market. Manufacturing of the first full airframe test article has begun and the team has started building tooling for production. The clean-sheet SET is being designed to meet the needs of customers requiring good capability, a comfortable cabin experience, affordable ownership costs and an intuitive pilot interface.

“This will be the first aircraft in its class to offer a FADEC-equipped engine, which will ease pilot workload, and that's just one of the features that will make the Cessna Denali a best-in-class aircraft,” says senior VP of engineering Brad Thress. “The team began propeller test runs and component tests with GE's new advanced turboprop engine, and door fit checks with its 51-inch wide by 53-inch tall aft cargo door.”

Engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots and full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds, the nine-seat Denali is expected to have a range of 1,600 nautical miles at high-speed cruise with one pilot and four passengers, enabling it to fly from London to Moscow.