Senior Editor

Jerry Siebenmark

Textron Aviation expects the first flight of its Cessna Denali turboprop single later this year now that GE Aviation has&nbsp;announced another milestone in its Catalyst engine development program. GE <a href="http://blog.geaviation.com/technology/a-catalyst-carol-the-ge-catalyst-takes-another-crucial-step-ahead-of-flight-testing/">said</a> its European flight-test engineering team has now fired up a Catalyst engine hung on a Beechcraft King Air 350 flying testbed in preparation for ground testing. The clean-sheet Catalyst will power the Denali.
“The engine started flawlessly on the first attempt,” said Catalyst product line leader David Kimball. “It reached ground idle in a stable and predictable manner without any intervention, and the fully integrated engine and prop control system worked seamlessly. This not only demonstrates progress within the program but also showcases the versatility of this engine; the Catalyst can be installed in a wide spectrum of aircraft applications with vastly different technical architectures.”
Next in the ground-test campaign is taxiing the testbed with the Catalyst, which will include running various power-management scenarios. That will help to determine the engine’s performance, operability, and responsiveness to Catalyst’s full authority digital engine and propeller controls-enabled pilot inputs, explained GE Aviation staff test engineer Jiri Pecinka.
A Textron Aviation spokeswoman confirmed to AIN this week that it had recently received a flightworthy Catalyst engine and was looking forward to first flight of the Denali, which originally was expected in 2019. “We anticipate the Denali making its official debut in 2021 as the development program ramps up, and we look forward to seeing another innovative creation—designed and built by our talented workforce—gracing the Kansas skies when the Denali takes flight in the second half of the year,” the spokeswoman said. With delays in the Catalyst program, Textron Aviation officials had previously <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-06-18/ge-aviation-still-plans-denali-engine-delivery-2020">declined to specify a timeline</a> for the first flight of the Denali.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

With Catalyst Progress, Textron Plans Cessna Denali First Flight 

GE Aviation begins ground testing of engine that will power the turboprop single.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Inventory fell by nearly a third year over year as resale transactions hit Q2 record

Asking Prices Disappear from ULR Bizjets, Says Jet Match

Kerry Lynch

Trump calls for a ban on Bombardier products

Amid Trade War, Trump Takes Aim at Bombardier Once More

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

More In Aircraft