6 April 2022
Textron Aviation has brought a range of upgrades for its piston aircraft range – Beechcraft and Cessna – to Sun ‘n Fun, which opened in Florida this week.
The new production Beechcraft Bonanza G36 has a 155 lb (70kg) increase to maximum takeoff weight, giving the aircraft a maximum useful load of 1,213 lb (550kg) in its standard configuration.
There’s also a revised cockpit for the Bonanza which its shares with theBeechcraft Baron G58 twin. There are three new interior schemes and a new cockpit layout with a standalone autopilot controller.
Beechcraft’s Baron, above, and Bonanza, top, have both been upgraded
New Bonanzas and Bonanzas will also include a Garmin GI 275 electronic standby instrument, a carbon monoxide detector integrated in the Garmin avionics system, USB ports at every seat, powered headset plugs in the cockpit, and updated LED exterior lighting for improved visibility.
All new production Cessna piston aircraft will also include a Garmin GI 275 electronic standby, eliminating three analogue standby instruments and providing additional flight data. The interior of Cessna high-wing piston aircraft is also refreshed.
Cessna’s piston singles will get the Garmin GI 275 as a standby instrument
“These are upgrades that will truly enhance the flying experience for our customers,” said Textron’s Chris Crow. “Customers will experience a noticeable change when they’re inside each of these aircraft.”
A Lycoming engine for the recently announced Cessna Turbo Skylane is also on display at Sun ‘n Fun. Visitors can also view a mockup of the new Beechcraft Denali, equipped with McCauley’s new composite, 5-blade propeller.
