Cessna Turboprop and New Citations Make Progress

At yesterday’s press day at the European Business Aviation Convention and Expo in Geneva, Switzerland, Textron Aviation provided an update on the progress of its expanding product line.

While Textron’s senior vice president of sales and marketing Kriya Shortt was not ready to announce the name of the company’s new single-engine turboprop (currently referred to as the SETP), she said that announcement will be made in July at EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A cabin mockup, now on display at Textron Aviation’s headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, will also be featured at AirVenture.

Shortt did, however, disclose details on the design targets for the airplane, which include a top speed of 285 knots, full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds and 1,600 nm range. The airplane will seat up to eight passengers, configured with six seats in the back plus an optional belted lavatory seat. A 53-inch aft cargo door will make loading and unloading easy.

The SETP will be powered by a 1,240 shp, fadec-equipped GE turboprop engine, which will spin a five-blade 105-inch McCauley propeller. Avionics have also been selected, with Garmin’s G3000 touch-screen controlled avionics suite. Textron Aviation is accepting letters of intent for the SETP, which has a price point of $4.8 million.

Textron Aviation president and CEO Scott Ernest said the company is investing $250 million to $300 million annually on new product development. Ernest said the new super-midsize Citation Longitude bizjet is expected to fly for the first time this summer and is on target for entry into service next year. Design details for the Citation Hemisphere, which was announced at NBAA last fall and is expected to take flight in 2019, are also in the works. The Hemisphere will have a 102-inch diameter fuselage with three zones for different function. An interior mockup will be on display at NBAA this fall.