Aircraft
Textron Plans SkyCourier First Flight in Early 2020
Textron Aviation officials said they have "progressed considerably" on the development and testing of the SkyCourier utility twin.
Textron Aviation is preparing the mate the prototype SkyCourier's wing, with first flight planned in early 2020. (Photo: Textron Aviation)
Textron Aviation is preparing the mate the prototype SkyCourier's wing, with first flight planned in early 2020. (Photo: Textron Aviation)

Textron Aviation (Booth C9343, Static SD503 and SD503A) is making progress on the development of its new high-wing, twin-turboprop Cessna SkyCourier 408 but now expects the utility airplane to make its first flight in early 2020, officials of the Wichita airframer announced Monday on the eve of NBAA-BACE. The program, unveiled in 2017, has progressed considerably over the course of the last few months with the development of the prototype and an additional five flight and ground test articles, they said. Wingmate of the prototype is rapidly approaching, they added.