17 November 2015
GE Aviation has revealed that it will be supplying a brand new design of engine to Cessna for the US company’s in-development single-engine turboprop aircraft. The aircraft was announced at last July’s Oshkosh event and will be a low-wing design designed to out-perform rivals such as the Pilatus PC-12.
The new engine will burn 20% less fuel and produce 10% more power than other engines in its class, claimed GE.
Brad Mottier, vice president of business and general aviation and integrated systems at GE Aviation, said, “Pilots can fly longer distances with more power while enjoying jet-like operational smoothness in the cockpit. That’s because the engine and propeller controls eliminate worries like over-temperature and over-torqueing. These technologies are unprecedented in turboprops, so now Textron Aviation can design a different class of aircraft.”
What’s more, the new 1300 shaft-horsepower (SHP) turboprop will be designed, tested and manufactured in Europe. GE will open a new ‘turboprop centre of excellence’ to make the engine as well as new regional aircraft engines.
GE started building small turboprop engines in 2008, when it acquired Walter Aircraft Engines in the Czech Republic. GE re-designed the engines so they could produce as much as 850 horsepower, fly higher and consume less fuel to reach some of the world’s most remote airports, including Lukla at the foot of Mt. Everest. They also serve on commuter and business planes as well as crop dusters.
