NewNew Turboprops Turboprops in rough water and buoyancy has been CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN EX added to the aft region of the float for Cessna received certification of its operations at high weights. souped-up $2.149 million Grand Car- avan EX (208B) last December and has posted brisk sales so far this year. The EPIC E1000 EX replaces the 675-shp PT6-114A with Epic’s campaign to certify a $2.75 the more powerful 867-shp PT6A-140, million production version of its all- a more aerodynamic Hartzell propeller composite LT kitplane continues. The with rounder edges, the Garmin G1000 company hopes to have a prototype air- Manufacturers offer plenty of options New Singles CAIGA PRIMUS 150 glass-panel avionics system, plusher inte- craft flying before year-end and to receive China’s state-run general aviation riors, new air induction intakes (nosegear certification by 2015. Over the sum- Cessna Grand Caravan EX for the growing international market company made two big moves into GA: cooling fairing), different flap settings, mer Epic unveiled a new automotive- BEECHCRAFT PD434 buying the design rights to the old Epic engine torque limiter and new ease-of- style instrument panel for the E1000 by Mark Huber Newly emerged from the chains of Aircraft designs and acquiring compos- maintenance features, including an easily that was designed in-house and features bankruptcy and its money-losing jet divi- ite lightplane maker Cirrus in 2011. It accessible borescope port. Previously, the Garmin G1000 glass-panel avionics. Epic There were two major developments in the be on track for never and late, respectively. sion, Beechcraft announced plans late apparently went to school fast, unveiling nosegear cooling fairing on the 208B was CEO Doug King said approximately 75 business turboprop sector this year and nei- NAL’s failure to finish the Saras presents last year for a new line of turboprops. a mockup for a five-seat fast single late available only with the 300-amp electrical employees are working on the program ther involved new aircraft. However, they did India’s indigenous aerospace sector with an Work appears to be proceeding on at last year. The all-composite Primus 150, option. It is now standard on the EX. and that more than 35 E1000s are already show where potentially the next growth area embarrassment and could be seen as cast- least one of these designs, code-named with styling more than just a little simi- Pilots used to have the choice of three on order. After certification, King expects is for the turboprop market: downstream. Tur- ing doubt on the government’s plan to develop PD434. Beechcraft did not return inqui- lar to the old Epic Escape, is aiming for flap settings on the 208B: 10, 20 and 30 to build 24 to 30 aircraft annually. boprops historically have been a useful vehi- the country’s own 90-seat commuter turbo- ries seeking comment on the new proj- a maximum cruise speed of 352 knots degrees. Now there are only two: take- The E1000 is powered by a P&WC cle for introducing new customers into the prop. China and Russia are also contemplat- ect, but it is believed to be a single-engine (identical to the Escape), a range of 1,410 off (about 20 degrees) and landing (30 PT6-67A and has a maximum speed of corporate aircraft market, provided operators ing new entries in this sector. Late last year design that may incorporate the all-com- nm and a ceiling of 28,000 feet. Power degrees). The torque limiter is a new 325 knots, a range of 1,625 nm, pay- can maintain price discipline. China’s government-controlled Caiga unveiled posite, wound fuselage of the discontin- will come from the 850-shp GE H85. addition for the EX. It limits torque to load with full fuel of 1,170 pounds and Turboprops are not jets, but when oper- a mockup for its proposed Primus 150 all- ued Premier IA twinjet with new wings, Deliveries could begin as early as 2015. 2,500 foot-pounds and varies the level a 28,000-foot ceiling. The cabin seats six ated within their proper parameters–includ- composite turboprop single. empennage and a single turboprop of torque with ambient conditions such and measures 15 feet long, 4.6 feet wide, ing within customer expectations–they can Established U.S. OEMs have been relatively engine mounted in the nose. Target price as temperature and pressure. It is not a and 4.9 feet high. Mtow is 7,500 pounds. provide transportation that is every bit as quiet about their future plans. Cessna had been is reported to be in the $2- to $4 million CESSNA CONCEPT SINGLE Fadec or an EEC system and the pilot Takeoff distance is 1,600 feet; landing safe and reliable. Witness the performance flight-testing a PT6 mounted in the nose of a range. The aircraft is thought to be aimed In July last year Cessna unveiled is still responsible for making the proper distance is 1,840 feet. and steady growth of Pilatus PC-12 operator Citation Mustang fuselage, but claimed it was at buyers of the Pilatus PC-12NG. a research cabin mockup for a design power settings. The new engine delivers a Kestrel 329 PlaneSense, which flies 30 of the big turbo- just a test bed. Then, 15 months ago, it revealed The preliminary concept includes seat- slightly larger than the Piper Meridian, 40-percent increase in climb rate, about prop singles, or the thoughtful launch of King a rough interior cabin mockup for a new low- ing configurations for 9 to 11 (including but has said little about it since. As this 10 knots more cruise speed and a some- GIPPSAERO GA10 with a reduced fuel load for “short tour- progress on major structures such as the Air 350i membership operator Wheels Up, wing single aimed straight at the Piper Meridian the pilot). Cabin dimensions: 5.5 feet sector becomes increasingly crowded, what better specific fuel consumption Certification of this utility single- ism flights.” Gipps reports strong mar- cowling, fuselage loft, cabin interior, wing which could take as many as 105 new air- and collected marketing and design data with it wide, 5.4 feet high and 20.4 feet long. The and Cessna CEO Scott Ernest contin- from a more efficient compressor. While engine turboprop has been pushed back ket interest in the GA10, especially from and empennage. A few proof-of-concept craft from Beechcraft between now and 2018. at EAA AirVenture 2012. NBAA IFR range with four passengers ues his campaign for each member of the the new engine has a standard TBO of to next year while the company seeks IFR skydiving clubs and governments that parts have been fabricated and the engine Dichter is chasing customers who will fly as Likewise, last year Beechcraft hinted at would be 1,750 nm and high-speed cruise company product line to defend itself on 3,600 hours, that can be increased to approval for it. The GA10, a stretched are interested in the aircraft for tactical has undergone test-stand runs mated to few as 20 to 30 hours per year. plans to develop a new line of turboprops 302 knots at FL250. The airplane would profitability, Cessna’s entry into this sec- 6,000 hours or 12 years for specific con- turboprop version of the company’s pis- applications such as observation, surveil- the redesigned cowl and propeller. Legacy platforms make sense for these including a single aimed at the Pilatus PC-12, have a max payload of 2,800 pounds and tor seems questionable at best. The air- ditions with FAR Part 121/135 operators. ton-powered GA8 Airvan, entered flight- lance, re-supply and personnel drops. To Some major suppliers for the air- types of operation because maintenance but has been short on detail about how it plans a full-fuel payload of 1,650 pounds. craft design proposed last year included Thanks to the extra engine power, the test last year. The 10-passenger GA10, accommodate diverse missions, Gipps craft have already been selected. They costs are well known and support networks to finance development of these new aircraft. How exactly this project will be able all-composite construction with retract- EX can now be equipped with amphibi- powered by a 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250- is developing various interior configu- include Garmin for its G3000 touch- long established. Two completely new fast single designs to proceed when Beechcraft finds a able landing gear, a wingspan of 42 feet, ous floats. Wipaire certified the $430,000 B17F/2, will have an empty weight of rations for skydiving, aerial survey, aer- screen avionics system and Honeywell The market seems to be more receptive from Kestrel and Epic remain in various stages buyer for its former Hawker jet division sidestick controls and seating for seven Wipline 8750 for the EX in July. The new approximately 2,400 pounds and a mtow ial surveillance, freight and passengers, for the TPE331-14GR engine, flat-rated to legacy utility/combi offerings in this sector of development, and two established designs remains unclear, as the composite wind- in a cabin measuring 53 inches tall, 54 float has an improved main gear retrac- of 4,750 pounds. With a full 150-gal- including an executive option. The air- to 1,000 shp and providing a 5,000-hour provided they are kept up-to-date, such as the from Dornier and Extra remain in search of ing machines that would be used for the inches wide and 17 feet, 8 inches long.