Textron Aviation focuses on piston power at AERO Friedrichshafen

Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is showcasing its extensive range of piston powered aircraft with a display of its Beechcraft and Cessna models during the annual Aero Friedrichshafen, taking place April 15-18 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

“No other company offers the European market the great range of piston aircraft that Textron Aviation offers through its Beechcraft and Cessna brands,” said Tom Perry, vice president, Sales, Europe. “We see a robust market in Europe with some customers seeking to replace older piston aircraft and Textron Aviation remains the company of choice to answer the requirement. Flight schools, long a key market for us, are particularly active and they continue to look to Textron Aviation as a provider and supporter of training aircraft.” 

Textron Aviation, formed a year ago through the combination of Beechcraft and Cessna, will feature the new Cessna Turbo Skyhawk 172 JT-A aircraft at AERO Friedrichshafen along with a Cessna TTx, the fastest single-engine piston in its class and a Beechcraft Baron G58, a six-seat executive twin-engine piston.

The new Cessna Turbo Skyhawk 172 JT-A aircraft is available as an alternate fuel option to the iconic 172, the world’s most popular general aviation aircraft. The Turbo Skyhawk JT-A is already approved for European operations, with a FAA validation in work.

The TTx, an all-composite, high-performance aircraft, designed specifically for comfort, speed and luxury, now features an approved flight into known icing (FIKI) system. The FIKI system extends the TTx’s mission capabilities and enables pilots to file flight plans for varying weather conditions. It can provide up to two-and-a-half hours of protection from most ice attaching to the airframe, with minimal impact on the performance.

The Beechcraft Baron G58 offers unmatched performance and range/payload capabilities in its segment. It also features a premium cabin that provides a superior ride of any twin-engine piston aircraft, including flexible seating that allows for seating for up to six people, with the option to reconfigure and remove seats to accommodate mission needs and large baggage items. Its flight deck includes fully integrated Garmin G1000 avionics with a GFC 700 flight control system and integrated GWX 68 color weather radar.

Textron Aviation will also showcase a Beechcraft King Air 350i, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, Cessna Citation M2, Cessna Citation CJ4, alongside McCauley Propeller Systems inside Hall A3 and at static display position SD17.

Textron Aviation supports a fleet of more than 40,000 propeller aircraft in Europe and Russia as well as 650 turboprops and more than 1,150 business jets.