Story ID: 4040914alerts
Nextant Unveils G90XT Flight Deck
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Single-lever power controls are a prominent feature in the G90XT’s new Garmin G1000-based flight deck.
Word Count: 226
Nextant Aerospace’s G90XT King Air C90A remanufacturing program is steps closer to reaching expected certification later this year, with installation of new GE H75 engines under way and unveiling of the turboprop’s new instrument panel last week at EAA AirVenture 2014.

The new panel is not a typical King Air Garmin G1000 upgrade, but a complete redesign of the flight deck with workload-saving, single-lever power controls. Two Garmin primary flight displays flank a large center multifunction display, with a Mid-Continent Instruments Standby Attitude Module for backup and a Luma Technologies LED glareshield warning panel.

Single-lever power is possible because of the Unison Industries electronic engine control for the GE H-series engines. The Unison component manages engine power and prop speed and has inflight torque- and temperature-limit protection, auto-start and engine-trend monitoring. A carbon-fiber layer adds a modern accent to the panel, as does removing the fuel panel from the left sidewall. Fuel-system controls are mounted above the power levers, replacing pressurization switches that are no longer needed because the pressurization system is digitally integrated.

Baseline testing of the C90A used for the G90XT–a Blackhawk conversion with the PT6A-135 engines–was completed about two months ago, and first run of the H75s on the airframe should take place early next month.