Update On Single Engine Turboprop Program Presented At EBACE

Textron has revealed further program details around the development of its single engine turboprop aircraft (SETP), including performance specification targets, the passenger experience and the program’s timeline. The company also announced at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) that letters of intent for the high performance, clean sheet SETP are being accepted.

The SETP will be designed to have cruise speeds of up to 285 knots and full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. With a planned range of 1,600 nautical miles at high speed cruise with one pilot and four passengers, the aircraft will be able to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami, London to Moscow or Geneva to Istanbul. It will feature the widest and most comfortable cabin in its segment while offering best-in-class operating costs. The program is targeting first flight in 2018.

“Developed with the pilot and passenger at the forefront, we have designed this airplane to be the clear winner in this segment, from class-leading performance and ownership costs, to superior cabin comfort and versatility,” Scott Ernest, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “We have been intentional with every detail throughout the aircraft, resulting in an exceptional airplane that is sure to impress owners, pilots and passengers alike.”

The SETP will incorporate technology specifically designed to reduce pilot workload. The aircraft’s flight deck will be powered by Garmin’s G3000 touchscreen avionics suite and will include high-resolution multifunction displays and split-screen capability. The G3000 avionics suite planned for the SETP includes weather radar, advanced Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS), and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) capabilities, which will make it compliant with a significant aspect of future Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control requirements.

Announced at NBAA 2015, the SETP will be powered by GE’s new advanced turboprop engine. The FADEC-equipped, 1,240 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated turboprop engine will ease pilot workload with its single-lever power and propeller control. The engine will provide an initial 4,000 hour time between overhaul and offer performance retention for an outstanding hot/high capability, the company says. The airplane will be equipped with McCauley’s new 105-inch diameter composite, 5-blade, constant speed propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch and ice protection.

The SETP’s flat floor cabin is designed to be the largest in its segment and will offer the versatility to easily convert between passenger and cargo configurations. The aircraft will feature a 53-inch wide aft cargo door, perfect for loading large cargo and ideal for use in many special mission applications.

Along with room for one pilot, the SETP will seat up to eight passengers, and will include a digital pressurization system maintaining a 6,130 foot cabin altitude at a service ceiling of 31,000 feet. The aircraft will feature six individual reclining seats and an optional belted lavatory seat with pocket door enclosure located in the back of the cabin, as well as large cabin windows, interior LED lighting, a forward refreshment cabinet and an in-flight accessible baggage compartment within the pressurized cabin.

“We are actively investing in new products and remain focused on bringing smart innovation to market that drives our customers’ businesses and missions forward. The SETP is a testament to that approach,” said Ernest. “This aircraft will be a perfect complement to our existing Cessna and Beechcraft product lineup and will give our customers the opportunity to move seamlessly through our family of aircraft, regardless of their mission.”

The company has developed a cabin prototype, which it is showcasing to customers at its headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, and plans to display at this summer’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

(Images provided with Textron news release)

FMI: www.txtav.com