At the recent EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show in Wisconsin, Textron Aviation had the largest exhibit space and the most aircraft of any exhibitor, not to mention a significant presence that no other major business aircraft manufacturer matched.
“I want to go in the directions our customers take us,” said Jimmy Beeson, director of product development. “I want everything we do to be guided by that end user and that customer. So [we] continue the great momentum we’ve built with our strategic customers, and continue to bring new technologies, new aesthetics, and new designs to our customers.”
Key to new product development is the customer advisory board (CAB) process, and these boards have been involved with programs such as the Longitude, SkyCourier, Denali, and others. “Giving attention to that legacy owner-operator or corporate flight department, and continuing to iterate on the CitationJet series, that’s always been extremely successful for us,” he said. “We’re always gathering feedback…not just in a formal CAB environment, but in our day-to-day conversations with our customers.”
At shows such as EAA AirVenture and NBAA-BACE, these conversations are more informal but nevertheless important. “You never skip an opportunity to get feedback when you’re in front of the customers,” he said. “They love to come here and walk around the static display with me or [Textron Aviation president and CEO] Ron Draper and tell us all about what they love or what they can’t wait to see next in the aircraft, what they dislike, and what doesn’t work. We take it all into consideration.”
Asked about the move to all-Garmin avionics in the entire Textron Aviation lineup, Beeson said, “I think there’s an inherent level of comfort that comes along with [Garmin]. ‘I may have started in G1000 and stepping into G3000;’ architecturally, it’s the same thing. How I interact with it might be different, but there’s a definite level of comfort that comes along with moving platforms, but staying with a somewhat familiar, comfortable [system].”
Notably absent from the Textron Aviation exhibit were any of the piston-engine Beechcraft products, the Bonanza G36, and the Baron G58. During 2024, the company delivered five Bonanzas and two Barons. In 2023, there were five of each delivered. “Beechcraft is a valuable brand,” Beeson said, “and you can see how well it’s represented throughout Oshkosh.” He added that investments continue with the Beechcraft line, but these are more focused on the King Airs and the single-engine turboprop Denali.
The cargo- and passenger-hauling SkyCourier took up a lot of space at the Textron Aviation exhibit and “is doing very well,” Beeson said. “It’s gotten a lot of attention here at the show. It surprises them how big it is and how much you can fit in it, all the things you can do with it. We just recently certified the combi version that can split passenger and cargo operations. It’s a very versatile platform with a lot of potential.”
At Oshkosh, one of three new interiors for the Grand Caravan was on display, the Lunar Premium cabin, as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Caravan. Quilted seats and new carpeting give the interior a more appealing look as opposed to the typical utilitarian cabin found in utility aircraft. USB-C ports are installed at each seat, and this Caravan has the black cockpit upgrade that was announced last year. More than 3,100 Caravans have been delivered since it entered service in 1985.
The second production Denali was also on display, and its role is for certification of the interior and avionics. This Denali had the club-four executive seating configuration with the optional belted lavatory. An externally serviced lavatory is also an option, and they are enclosed by a movable bulkhead and a sliding door. The standard lavatory is a carry-on, carry-off unit.
With the Denali’s GE Catalyst engine receiving FAA certification in February, deliveries are expected to begin shortly after certification in 2026. “The flight test program is going well and we’re preparing to enter service,” Beeson said.