Textron Aviation’s New Beechcraft Denali is Judged a Robb Report Best of the Best
To be recognized as a Robb Report ‘Best of the Best’ is considered the ultimate accolade in luxury and innovation. For the magazine’s highly influential 2023 compilation, the ‘Best Turboprop’ category went to Textron Aviation’s highly anticipated Beechcraft® Denali® aircraft.
According to the publication, the ground-breaking, supremely versatile Denali turboprop is all set to “rise to the top” of the single-engine turboprop sector in 2025, when it’s scheduled to enter service
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Here will be the first certified aircraft to be powered by the new 1,300 horsepower, super-efficient Catalyst™ engine from GE Aerospace™, a world-leading provider of jet engines for commercial and military aircraft. This has the distinction of being the first clean-sheet engine design in the turboprop segment for more than three decades.
With this fuel-sipping, low-emission powerplant, the new Beechcraft Denali turboprop is designed to transport four passengers up to 1,600 nautical miles at 285 knots. That’s Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami, or London to Athens non-stop. The Denali turboprop has a maximum operating altitude of 31,000 feet and features a 1,100-pound full fuel payload capability.
For the pilot there’s the convenience and simplicity of a state-of-the-art Garmin® G3000® suite of cockpit avionics that includes Garmin’s integrated auto-throttle system, and single-lever control for the engine and propeller. The cockpit layout also features three 14-inch widescreen LCD displays and twin, multi-function touch-screen control panels
But it’s the addition of Garmin’s ground-breaking Emergency Autoland system that offers the most peace of mind for pilots and passengers. Here, in the unlikely event of a pilot being incapacitated, a passenger can activate the Emergency Autoland system with the press of a single, dedicated button in the cockpit.
Once engaged, the system immediately takes control of the aircraft, informs air traffic control of the emergency, and calculates a flight path to the most suitable airport or runway. Then it automatically lands the aircraft, bringing it to a complete stop before shutting down the engine
For passengers, this new Beechcraft turboprop boasts unrivaled space and comfort, courtesy of a spacious fuselage and flat-floor cabin said to be the largest in its segment, with the most head and shoulder room. The standard seating configuration features six executive-style reclining leather armchairs, with the option of nine seats for commuter duties.
Passengers will also appreciate the oversized windows, aft lavatory, large cargo door, and generously sized, full-height luggage compartment that’s accessible from inside the cabin during flight. The cabin’s versatility also means it can easily and quickly switch between passenger and cargo configurations.
Add to all this a sleek, slender, clean exterior design that boasts a 54 ft. 3 in. wingspan, 48 ft. 9 in. overall length, a distinctive and deep windshield, and a feathering, five-blade, composite McCauley® propeller.
Summing up their Best of the Best accolade, Robb Report’s editors say: “The Denali aircraft arrives at a competitive price point for a single-engine turboprop, thanks mostly to the luxe accommodations and tech-focused details that give it serious credibility.”
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