Looking Back: Textron Aviation

November 2016

In November, Textron Aviation continued layoffs that were announced in late August as part of a restructuring plan that was to continue through first-quarter 2017. The layoffs are part of a series of actions that Textron took in the fall of 2016, including offering a voluntary separation program in September and announcing it was closing two of its maintenance centers.

The second Cessna Citation Longitude, registered as N701GL, joined the flight-test program and completed its first flight from Wichita Beech Field. Textron Aviation test pilots Scott Foster and Peter Fisher piloted the aircraft on its initial 90-minute flight, reaching all of its performance targets. This flight occurred one month after the first Longitude prototype made its maiden flight.

Textron Aviation tapped Astronics to supply the electrical system for Cessna's Denali turboprop single. The aircraft will feature Astronics’s Corepower induction starter generator and circuit breaker units, as well as the company’s 28-volt DC Empower in-seat power supply.

December 2016

Textron Aviation added the Safe Flight angle-of-attack (AOA) system to the Cessna 172S Skyhawk. The AOA system is standard on new Skyhawks, including the diesel engine Turbo JT-A that entered service early this year, and it is a $5,000 option on the 182T Skylane and Turbo Stationair HD T206H.

Textron Aviation subsidiary Beechcraft announced the introduction of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A engines to boost performance for its King Air 350HW and 350ER twin turboprops. The company also started offering an increased maximum takeoff weight of 17,500 pounds for the two models.

January 2017

In January, Textron Aviation announced its service centers started offering Garmin’s new G1000NXi integrated flight deck for the Beechcraft King Air 200, 250, 300 and 350 twin turboprops, as well as for new-build piston aircraft. The latter include the Cessna 182 Skylane, 172 Skyhawk and T206 Turbo Stationair HD and Beechcraft Baron G58 and Bonanza G36.

While Textron Aviation is expected to boost Citation Latitude output by 30 percent this year, it also announced plans to cut the production rate by almost as much throughout the rest of its Citation jet line. The company delivered 58 new Citations and 28 King Air turboprops in the fourth quarter of 2016, down from the 60 jets and 33 King Airs shipped in the fourth quarter of 2015. As a result, revenues dropped to $1.436 billion and profits to $135 million in the fourth quarter of the year.

February 2017

While attending Aero India 2017 in February, Textron Aviation announced that it added Jubilant Enpro Private Ltd. as its newest channel partner. The Noida-based venture business segment of Jubilant Corp. will serve as Textron’s authorized sales representative for King Air as well as Cessna Caravan turboprops and Citation business jets, in India.

According to the 2017 report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Textron Aviation's Citation Latitude earned the title of the best-selling midsize jet, with 42 deliveries last year.

The first installation of Tamarack Aerospace's active winglets on a Citation M2 took place at the Textron Aviation Service Center in Wichita. Tamarack’s active winglets increase the aspect ratio of the M2’s wing from around nine to more than 12, which translates to a 10- to 12-percent reduction in fuel burn, a 400-pound max zero fuel weight increase, more than 600-pound hot-and-high performance boost and the removal of a yaw damper “Inop” limitation.

March 2017

Textron Aviation’s Citation Sovereign+ and Latitude received steep-approach approval from both the FAA and EASA. With the certification to track approach angles of up to 6.65 degrees, these midsize jets can operate into destinations such as London City Airport and Switzerland’s Lugano Airport.

The third Citation Longitude joined the flight-test fleet, making a one hour and 40 minute maiden flight from Wichita Beech Field. According to FlightAware, the twinjet—registered as N702GL—reached an altitude of 13,600 feet and speeds up to 256 knots during the flight. Test pilots Corey Eckhart and UJ Pesonen, along with flight-test engineer Mike Bradfield, tested various systems.

April 2017

Textron Aviation launched a “build your own” Cessna TTx platform. The TTx online configurator allows prospective buyers to customize their interior, paint and avionics with options such as air conditioning for $30,765, icing protection for $55,180 and training for $4,135, which is added to the $715,000 base price. Textron officials stated, “The TTx configurator is a first-of-its-kind online virtual aircraft generator that gives prospective aircraft owners a snapshot of their custom TTx aircraft.”

Textron Aviation announced that King Air deliveries fell 54 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2017 as the strong dollar weighed on international sales. Meanwhile, Citation shipments remained largely flat over the comparable periods. During the first three months this year, Textron handed over 12 King Airs, down from 26 in that same timeframe last year, and 35 Citations, one more compared with a year ago.

May 2017

The final Citation Mustang rolled off the assembly line. More than 470 of the entry-level jets were delivered during its 12-year production run.

Textron Aviation began building the first test articles of its new Cessna Denali turboprop single. At this time, the aircraft manufacturer began fabrication of Denali door test articles, including the 51-inch wide by 53-inch tall aft cargo door. Denali engineers also started tests on the complete fuel system iron bird mockup. The aircraft had been unveiled at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the summer of 2016.

Textron Aviation's Citation Longitude made its European debut during EBACE. The company displayed the fourth Longitude to join the flight test program. This aircraft flew for the first time on May 6, initially completing a three-hour and 20-minute flight from Beech Field in Wichita. The company also had the Longitude, Latitude, XLS+, CJ4, CJ3+, M2, Grand Caravan EX and King Air 250 on display at EBACE.

June 2017

Textron’s TRU Simulation + Training business unit obtained FAA certification for its Cessna Citation Latitude and Sovereign+ pilot training programs in June. The company also announced it started accepting students at its TRU ProFlight Pilot Training Center in Tampa, Florida. Courses under the Latitude/Sovereign+ program include initial aircraft and initial type rating, recurrent and avionics introduction, as well as TRU’s online Current 365 continuous currency courses. 

Textron Aviation rolled out the first production Citation Longitude from its Plant IV facility at Beech Field in east Wichita. At the time, there were five super-midsize twinjets on the production line. Also at this time, the four flight-test Longitudes had logged approximately 550 hours.

Textron Aviation delivered the 2,000th aircraft from its Citation CJ family. The Citation CJ3+ was delivered to longtime Citation customer Marc Dulude at Textron Aviation’s headquarters in Wichita. Dulude serves on the board of directors for the Citation Jet Pilots Association and has owned and operated a Mustang and, later, a Citation M2. 

July 2017

In July, Textron Aviation delivered the first fully configured Hawker 400XPR from its Wichita Service Center to a Seattle-based company. Transformation of the 400XPR entailed upgrading the customer’s baseline Hawker 400XP with new Hawker winglets, Williams FJ44 engines, refurbished interior and new paint scheme.

At EAA AirVenture, Textron Aviation announced that the Garmin G1000NXi flight deck is now standard on new-production Cessna Grand Caravan EXs and Caravans. At this time the company had already received both FAA and EASA certification for the upgraded avionics on its turboprop singles.

August 2017

Winglet Technology rolled out its new “transitional” winglets for the Citation Sovereign and announced it was looking into winglets for the Sovereign+. The retrofit of the transitional winglet dramatically cuts the time-to-climb to FL450, offers up to 35 knots additional speed at FL450, increases range by up to 340 nm and/or allows up to 914 pounds payload capability at equivalent range.