Textron Aviation has successfully mated the wings to the fuselage of the first clean-sheet Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop prototype aircraft.

“As expected, the operation was sound as the wings were secured on the fuselage, and the new Cessna SkyCourier took another major step in its development,” says senior VP of programmes and engineering Chris Hearne. “The SkyCourier's rugged, high-wing design will give the aircraft excellent operational and performance characteristics for its diverse mission profile.”

The programme is progressing considerably with the assembly of the prototype and additional five flight and ground test articles. Landing gear testing continues as well as avionics ground testing. First flight of the SkyCourier is anticipated in 2020.

The Cessna SkyCourier will be offered in various configurations including freighter, passenger or combi, all based on a common platform with a 6,000-pound payload. The freighter configuration is designed to accommodate three standard air cargo containers (LD3) while the passenger variant carries up to 19 passengers and baggage.

The aircraft is designed for high utilisation and is expected to deliver a combination of robust performance and lower operating costs. It will feature the popular Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite and offer highlights such as a maximum cruise speed of up to 200 kts and a maximum range of 900 nm. Both freighter and passenger variants of the Cessna SkyCourier will offer single-point pressure refuelling to enable faster turnarounds.