OSHKOSH, Wis. (July 21, 2026) — Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced the clean-sheet single-engine Beechcraft Denali turboprop is progressing through the final phases of flight testing. The Denali program remains on schedule to complete all flight test activities in October 2026.
Following completion of the testing, Textron Aviation will submit final flight test documentation to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for certification. The aircraft is expected to enter into service in 2027.
With more than 4,100 flight hours across 1,650 flights, the Denali flight test program’s three test articles are supporting ongoing validation of aircraft performance, systems and operational capabilities.
“Our teams continue to deliver meaningful progress on this clean-sheet aircraft,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering & Programs. “The Beechcraft Denali program is advancing through the certification process very well as we complete critical flight test milestones and continue validating performance, systems and operational capability, reinforcing our confidence in the aircraft’s performance and our path to entry into service.”
The Beechcraft Denali will feature the revolutionary Garmin Emergency Autoland, bringing even greater peace of mind to the journey for both pilots and passengers. The aircraft program has recently seen successful completion of a wide range of critical certification tests, including:
- Stall speeds and characteristics
- Control and maneuvering characteristics
- Natural icing and ice shape evaluations
- Field performance
- Flyover noise
- Human Factors assessments
- Various avionics system tests
- Phase 1 of function and reliability testing
The Beechcraft Denali is a clean-sheet, single-engine turboprop engineered to deliver advanced capability, modern ownership efficiency and an experience designed around the people on board across a wide range of missions.
The Beechcraft Denali’s flat-floor cabin is designed to be the largest in its segment and offers the lowest cabin altitude in class, providing a sea-level cabin to more than 18,000 ft. The cabin features a standard seating configuration of six individual reclining seats and offers a nine-place high density seating option. Passengers will enjoy large cabin windows, a forward refreshment cabinet and an in-flight accessible baggage compartment. An optional externally serviceable belted lavatory in the rear of the cabin is available.
Engineered to achieve cruise speeds of 285 knots and full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds, the Beechcraft Denali is designed to have a range of 1,600 nautical miles at high-speed cruise with one pilot and four passengers and will be able to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami or London to Athens.
The Denali is the first aircraft powered with GE Aerospace’s Catalyst engine, a more efficient engine that burns less fuel than competitors in the same size class. Like the company’s additional turbine aircraft, the Denali can also use sustainable aviation fuel. The FADEC-equipped, 1,300 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated turboprop engine eases pilot workload with its single-lever power and propeller control. Built-in engine trend monitoring contributes to an on-condition time between overhaul.
The airplane is also 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 cockpit features the intuitive Garmin G3000 avionics suite with high-resolution screens and touchscreen controllers. An integrated Garmin autothrottle interfaces with the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) and Flight Management System (FMS) to provide easy speed control throughout all regimes of flight from takeoff to touchdown. The revolutionary Garmin Emergency Autoland system is also being implemented into the aircraft’s development and flight test program and will be a standard feature on the aircraft at time of entry into service.
The Beechcraft Denali is engineered with class-leading maintenance intervals of 800 hours / 18 months, reducing downtime for operators. The aircraft is equipped with Textron Aviation’s LinxUs diagnostics system, enabling real time transmission and download of diagnostics data for enhanced troubleshooting capabilities.
We have been inspiring the journey of flight for nearly 100 years. Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna, Hawker and Pipistrel brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, light and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense aircraft, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business; and performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors.