Piper Aircraft Inc. said its new M700 Fury received type certification from the FAA, clearing the way for customer deliveries of the flagship aircraft to begin immediately.

Piper said the M700’s maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas marks it as the fastest single-engine aircraft in the company’s history of more than 87 years. The cabin-class airplane, revealed last month, is powered by a 700 hp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engine and has a range of 1,424 nm. The aircraft also is equipped with the latest version of the Garmin G3000 avionics suite that includes the Emergency Autoland feature as part of Piper’s HALO safety system.

• READ MORE: Piper Lifts the Veil on the M700 Fury, Its Fastest Single Yet

“We are thrilled to announce the U.S. certification of the Piper M700 Fury by the FAA just a month after its announcement,” said John Calcagno, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft. “And there’s more to come. The Fury is just the first step in a new generation of our M-Class product line, so watch this space, as Piper’s M-Class will be expanding both above and below what we currently offer today.”

Performance is a key selling point for the M700. Piper said the new airplane can take off and clear a 50-foot obstacle in 1,994 feet, which is a 24 percent improvement over the M600SLS that it replaces. The company also said the M700’s climb rate of 2,048 fpm is 32 percent faster than that of the M600. 

Piper said it expects to complete international validations of the M700 for Canada, Europe, the UK, and Brazil during the second half of this year. The company said it plans to begin delivering the aircraft to customers in those markets before year’s end.

The post Piper Announces FAA Type Certification for M700 Fury appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Textron Aviation said it agreed to sell one of its Cessna SkyCourier passenger models to Hinterland Aviation, a regional airline in Australia. Delivery of the new aircraft is expected in 2026.

The SkyCourier, a high-wing, twin-turboprop utility design, will join Hinterland’s large fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans, bringing an increase in passenger seating and payload. Textron said expansion of the Hinterland fleet will benefit the remote communities that the airline serves as well as tourism and other businesses in Queensland.

“The SkyCourier’s incredible performance makes it a reliable business tool for customers all over the world,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of global sales and flight operations for Textron Aviation. “With the ability to load, fly, unload, and repeat—along with low operating costs and maximum cabin flexibility—the SkyCourier is a game-changer in regional connectivity.”

A single pilot can operate the SkyCourier, which is designed to be adaptable to a range of passenger, freight, and special-mission flights. It is available in both freighter and passenger versions, with the 19-passenger model boasting crew and traveler doors for easier boarding. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refueling for rapid turnaround. 

• READ MORE: Textron Aviation Delivers First Passenger Cessna SkyCourier

“We are thrilled to announce our order of the new Cessna SkyCourier,” said Andrew Clair, CEO of Hinterland Aviation. “The aircraft will be a valuable addition to our fleet, allowing us to better serve our clients’ individual needs with room for 19 passengers and access to remote runways. The SkyCourier will serve as an important tool to help grow our business, and we will be proud to be the first airline customer in Australia to operate this aircraft.”

The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC engines with McCauley C779 propellers. The 110-inch, four-blade props have full feathering with reverse pitch. The aircraft is equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and boasts a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas and range of 900 nm.

The post Textron to Deliver SkyCourier to Hinterland Aviation for Passenger Service appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The turboprop market cruises along, still propelled by the surge in demand as the world worked its way through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022—though numbers have drawn back slightly. That’s a scenario that’s OK for most OEMs that have struggled with lingering supply chain pain points.

In 2022, a total of 505 single-engine turboprops (SETs) were delivered, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), besting the 2021 and 2020 totals of 455 and 381, respectively. That’s a healthy market that should continue, even as pressure from the war in Ukraine continues in Europe with aftershocks globally. On the multiengine side, a total of 77 units went out the door in 2022, up from 72 in 2021, and 62 in 2020.

Single-Engine

FLYING Editors’ Choice Award winner for Aircraft in 2023, Daher’s Kodiak 900, leads the group in combining utility with efficiency. Though FAA certification was announced in summer 2022—and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval in April—deliveries were just beginning in earnest as we went to press. “The difficulty that our aviation industry [is] having these days is to manage the supply chain,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s aircraft division, at EAA AirVenture this summer. “We are working with great partners…but all the suppliers are needed to complete an aircraft, and this is still a problem. So the Kodiak 900 deliveries have just started, and we intend to have eight deliveries of the Kodiak 900 this year, and next year, it’s going to be 50 percent of the output, so 15 aircraft.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Daher Kodiak 900

Daher fielded not one but two new turboprops in 2022—and while the Kodiak 900 looks very different on the outside from its predecessor (the 100 Series III), the other, the TBM 960, shows its significant evolution on the inside. The business end of it, the Pratt & Whitney PT6E-66XT turboprop, is on full display, but the brains, the Garmin GDL 60, only gained full signoff in July, though it had been in place on the 960 since its debut in March last year. Daher also continues to expand roles for its Kodiak 100 Series III—on tricycle gear or floats—in multimission and public service roles.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Daher TBM 960

The Piper M Class continues to perform well in the market, according to Ron Gunnarson, vice president of sales and marketing for Piper Aircraft. Gunnarson noted strong continued sales of the M500 and M600/SLS Halo introduced in late 2019 with Garmin’s Autoland on board—though he too called out the ongoing supply chain issues. “We remain in a ‘pull’ market—probably the strongest market that any of us have ever seen, including those who have been here for 30 or more years,” said Gunnarson at AirVenture. “It’s not pulling as hard as it was a year ago, but it was unsustainable. It was collapsing our traditional supply chain. It was pulling on the resources of every OEM and every major supplier.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Piper M600/SLS Halo

Still, the push to get aircraft into customers’ hands continues. Epic Aircraft fielded the update to its certified SET, the E1000 GX, in fall 2021, and in 2022 it delivered 16 of the fast turboprop to customers. So far in the first quarter of 2023, it only shipped two units, hampered by those same supply chain constraints. Pilatus Aircraft also remains sold out into 2025 on its longevous PC-12 NGX.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic Aircraft E1000 GX

Sustainable aviation fuel plays a critical part in the strength of the single-engine turboprop (SET) market, as it identifies a near-term path toward net-zero emissions for these airframes, though it is hardly as easy to implement as it seems on paper. Nicholas Kanellias, vice president of general aviation for Pratt& Whitney Canada, said in a press conference at AirVenture: “We’re focusing on the future. We realize that we need to be able to optimize the engine, but [SAF] has to also be accessible for the customer base that we’ve got.”

Greater operational efficiency is also made possible by advancements in the turboprop engine that powers most SETs, the Pratt & Whitney PT6 series. Now in its “E” versions—as in the PT6E-67XP on the PC-12NGX—the powerplant is integrated with the airframe through the engine and propeller electronic control system, which streams data usable by both the pilot, Pratt & Whitney, and the airframe OEM. “[Pilots] can monitor whatever parameters they need to in order to fly the aircraft, while we monitor over 100 parameters for the engine,” said Kanellias. That greater data transparency is likely to advance turboprops toward reducing emissions as much as the net gain currently seen in using 30 percent SAF from varying sources—and in distribution worldwide that is uneven at best until better standards have been set.

Multiengine

Textron Aviation advanced the multiengine turboprop (MET) game on its own in 2021 and 2022 with the debuts of the next generation Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360/360ER to replace the 200 and 350, respectively, as well as the short-haul mount, the Cessna SkyCourier.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Beechcraft King Air 360

The King Air 260 marked a total of 35 deliveries in 2022 to best slightly the 360/ER’s total of 34 units. The SkyCourier saw six deliveries to launch customer FedEx, beginning in May 2022—but it also notched its first airline customer, Aerus, a new regional airline in Mexico, which will operate the company’s Cessna Grand Caravan EX as well.

The post Turboprops: Power Up appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Éric Trappier, current chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, has been chosen to lead Dassault’s corporate group upon the retirement of Charles Edelstenne on January 9, 2025.

Groupe Dassault consists of several enterprises beyond Dassault Aviation, including Dassault Systèmes, Le Figaro (media and services), Immobilière Dassault (real estate), Dassault Wine Estates (including Saint-Émilion, France-based Château Dassault), and Artcurial (auction house).

Edelstenne rose to lead the French conglomerate on May 28, 2018, following the death of Serge Dassault. Trappier comes into the position having longtime experience with the company. He served as executive vice president, international directorate, leading the company’s successful bid to sell the Mirage 2000-9 fighter to the United Arab Emirates in 1998, as well as the selection of the Rafale fighter following India’s Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft RFP in 2012.

Trappier graduated from Telecom SudParis academy for engineers and then served in the French Navy as an officer. He joined Dassault Aviation in 1984 as a systems engineer in the business unit’s design department. Currently, he also serves as chairman of Dassault Falcon Jet, and he’s a member of the French Légion d’Honneur and Knight of the Ordre National du Mérite.

Dassault Aviation certified the Falcon 6X in 2023 under Trappier’s leadership and continues development of the Falcon 10X with certification anticipated in 2025.

The post Trappier to Lead Dassault Corporate in 2025 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

With an increasingly global workforce of 13,000 employees—up from 10,500 a year ago—and 1.65 billion euros revenue on top of three years of revenues stacked into the order book, Daher is poised to leverage the continued growth in its aerospace, industrial, and logistics segments. That is, if it can navigate the ongoing stresses on the global economy, including inflation, supply chain constraints, soft pricing models, and difficulty recruiting the talented workforce it needs to capitalize on opportunities and fulfill the order book it already has.

Daher’s position demonstrates well the state of the global aerospace market.

“We are in a paradox situation—some are happy; some are not happy,” said Patrick Daher, board chair for the Daher group, in kicking off the company’s performance review for 2023 in Paris on February 7. “We are feeling the impact of the international situation, and then we are still recovering from COVID, but the COVID crisis is over for us…But some international threats—for example the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, the future elections, the situation in China—all these events have created a political instability that is really worrying for the future.”

Yet industry events such as the 2023 Paris Air Show indicate where the future lies—with caution as to the expense of making change. “As chairman [of] the Salon de Bourget in 2023 and chairman of Daher…I have the chance to see that energy transition is coming with a really high price,” said Daher. “Speaking about industry, we have really good news in terms of an increase in production.”

In 2023, Daher recorded strong deliveries of both its TBM and Kodiak series turboprops, with a total of 56 TBMs and 18 Kodiaks, for a total of 76 units. In addition, it counts more than 100 turboprops in its order book, taking it well into 2025.

READ MORE: Daher Delivers 100th TBM 960

An Industry Overview

At the same time, major Daher client and partner Airbus has never manufactured so many aircraft—a record number went out the door in December, as Daher noted in the report. That is in spite of the constant pressures brought on by inflation, provisioning difficulties, recruitment challenges, rise in wages, and lowering margins. Collectively these have led to soft pricing models that have persisted through the past couple of years.

“We have forgotten how to deal with such problems of inflation that we experienced 20 years ago,” said Daher. “It was really hard to find raw materials, and this was linked to geopolitical problems, [such] as the war in Ukraine. We were missing material. This lack of raw materials is linked to the mismanagement of the supply chain—the suppliers failed to ship what we needed to manufacture our aircraft—and to produce what our clients asked us to do.”

Another problem Daher noted has been the lack of employee candidates. “It is not easy to recruit the right profiles…The COVID crisis changed behaviors in terms of wages and employees, so it is really hard for us to hire and find talents.” This has driven companies like Daher to invest heavily in training—because like never before they have had to recruit from outside the aviation industry.

“All these factors in 2023—after COVID, we were expecting 2021 and 2022 to be difficult—but these problems arrived in 2023,” Daher said. “All of these factors resulted in our weakened profitability. We need to consider the energy transition and the decrease in carbon intensity…2023 highlighted the emergency but also the [convergence], vis-à-vis the problem of decarbonization.”

The Daher group considers government support crucial—specifically CORAC, the French council for civil aviation research—and 300 million euros per year have been earmarked by CORAC to help fund the energy transition. “Aviation industry, all research efforts, have converged, because in the past each company focused on a specific research field, but right now there is a really clear target: low-carbon, low-emission aircraft,” Daher said.

Eco-Pulse Update

For the French OEM, the convergence flies today via its hybrid-electric Eco-Pulse technology demonstrator, which uses a TBM airframe, electric motors and powertrain components form Saran, and electric power storage by Airbus in a distributed lift model (simply put) to test various components and how they interact in actual flight operations. The Eco-Pulse retains a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine, but in December made its first flight segments completely powered by the six electric motors.

“It is a major step towards decarbonization,” said Daher. “Because high voltage electricity can be a good solution…we are continuing with some hybrid tests. This is the first step…People thought I was crazy [last year] when I spoke about this target [to have a marketable product by 2027], but we are headed in that direction.” It will be a TBM or Kodiak because those are the models Daher has in its portfolio, but the company has yet to determine which will be chosen and exactly what that will look like.

FLYING asked if the OEM could share any feedback—including any performance data, if possible—from those first flights. Christophe Robin, vice president of engineering for Daher’s aircraft division, provided this insight: “EcoPulse is a technology demonstrator, therefore, aircraft performance is not the goal. The EcoPulse configuration has been chosen with the strategy of increasing the level of complexity in hybridization to develop a ‘maturity picture’ for all of the technologies involved—including examining side effects such as weight penalties, as well as issues induced by HIRF (high-intensity radiated field) and lightning.”

READ MORE: We Fly: Daher TBM 960

Log’in, Shap’in, Fly’in

To support innovation efforts, Daher launched its second tech center, Log’in, in Toulouse, also geared toward decarbonization. “Out of 7 million tonnes [of carbon emissions] we realized that a big quantity is related to our clients, and we want to work on these figures [as well] in order to work on decarbonization,” said Daher.

Fly’in will be the third tech center Daher launches, in Tarbes, focused on aircraft development, “stepping up” in both technology and the drive towards net-zero emissions.

FLYING also asked Daher to expand on the current projects that have already been realized from the new technology centers and Eco-Pulse. Robin shared a portion of what the group has learned thus far, and what it expects to benefit from. 

“In addition to the aspects of EcoPulse that are linked to aircraft hybridization, another important focus is demonstrating the application of advanced composites on aircraft,” said Robin. “Under the guidance of Daher’s research and technology teams, EcoPulse is using composites for the aircraft’s winglets, engine pylons, Karman and battery fairings, as well as the air inlet—which were produced primarily with an infusion-based carbon/cork micro-sandwich. A goal of EcoPulse is to make it possible to evolve the performance and feasibility of integrating these technologies on secondary parts/components of Daher-built aircraft, while developing rapid prototyping skills used within the aviation framework.”

This is complementary to other developments underway at Daher—including projects in cooperation with partners such as CORAC (the French Council for Civil Aeronautical Research).

Pascal Laguerre, chief technology officer for Daher, provided significant insight beyond the Eco-Pulse demonstrator. “Taking a wider view for activities outside the framework of EcoPulse, Daher devotes a significant part of its overall R&D budget to thermoplastics,” said Laguerre. “This material is particularly promising in the world of aerostructures for future applications on production aircraft. It lends itself more easily to the automation of production (issue of throughput), and it is recyclable, repairable and weldable. Its mechanical properties make it possible to use less material and, overall, make structures lighter—all of which are key qualities with a view toward reducing carbon emissions. This is focused on accelerating the development of real applications in the future for the benefit of its customers, including [several more widely focused] projects.”

For example, as part of CORAC, Daher leads the largest French research project on thermoplastics in current execution, called TRAMPOLINE 2 (TheRmoplAstic coMPosites for hOrizontaL tail plaNE), as well as utilizing induction welding instead of riveting—with a weight savings of 15 percent.

Also, the investment has already borne fruit in components that will be found on the company’s current TBM product lines.

“After more than three years of R&D work, Daher succeeded in manufacturing rudder pedals in recycled high-performance thermoplastic composites from production scraps to equip the TBM, which have been certified for flight on production TBMs,” said Laguerre. “In addition to being lightweight, thermoplastics have low thermal conduction, as well as equal or better physicochemical and mechanical properties: It’s a win-win for Daher customers. And beyond the environmental benefits, the cost of these parts is significantly reduced compared to metal machining.

“In addition, Daher has obtained the first results of an R&D project called CARAC TP, carried out in collaboration with a set of academic laboratories competent in composite materials. The objective [is] to identify and characterize the thermoplastic composites best suited to aeronautical applications and compare them to thermoset materials. The project makes it possible to study materials in depth through multiple tests that go beyond the scope of qualification programs carried out in the industry: impact resistance, fire resistance, environmental aging (ozone, UV, fluids), impact of manufacturing processes on physicochemical properties, material performance, etc.”

Daher looks also outside its walls to new small businesses to help drive this innovation charge. Encouragingly, more than 300 aerospace-relevant startups took part in the Paris Air Show.

“We had 25 of these startups at the Daher stand at Le Bourget,” said Daher, noting that the company looks forward to engaging with these innovators, perhaps through acquisition or collaboration, on various projects.

WATCH: We Fly the Kodiak 900, Ready for Grand Adventures

The Takeoff 2027 Strategy

Daher reported a strengthening bottom line but noted there is room for improvement. At the press conference, Daher CEO Didier Kayat indicated the belief that Daher would become profitable based on its strategic realignment to better serve four sectors: aircraft, industry, industrial services, and logistics. The company also plans a transformation of the organizational structure by 2025, to help align and draw down any existing silos between the business functions.

To this end, Daher made a quartet of additions to its executive committee in the later part of 2023. On October 1, Alain-Jory Barthe joined Daher’s Industry division as senior vice president. Then, on January 1, Cédric Eloy became the head of the Industrial Services division as senior vice president of manufacturing services, and Julie de Cevins became the group’s chief sustainability officer—a key appointment, given the group’s charge to attain net-zero goals by 2050. Finally, on February 1, Aymeric Daher became senior vice president of the Logistics division.

Daher is adapting its organization to support the four business units, with the following actions:

• To create a managerial culture that is based in what it calls the “Daher Leadership Model”—effectively empowering a cadre of 1,500 leaders within the company to act with an entrepreneurial spirit
• To anticipate challenges and innovate toward decarbonisation solutions, with Eco-Pulse among other projects
• To support the acquisitions needed for growth across the four sectors.

Acquisitions have already borne fruit for the company, including the Stuart, Florida, facility.

“The acquisition of AAA strengthened the Industrial Services division, for example,” Daher said. “We are now the leader of industrial services…We can support aircraft manufacturers in peak periods.”

If Daher can make its way through the concurrent challenges of acquisition-driven growth, corporate restructuring, price pressures, and order fulfillment, its plan for the years ahead puts it on track to form part of the global solution to decarbonization—as well as providing the aircraft the customer demands for the future.

The post Daher’s Decarbonization Plans Drive Towards Hybrid-Electric Aircraft, Composites appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Piper Aircraft has broken through two key markers with the M700 Fury—speed and price.

The OEM’s latest turboprop contender breaks 300 knots, and clocks in at $4.1 million, it announced on Tuesday afternoon in a livestream event. The change instigating the new model number? The introduction of a 700 hp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engine—replacing the flat-rated 600 hp PT6A-42A in the M600. Piper anticipates FAA type certification by the end of the first quarter of this year.

The M700 stays at its 6,000 pounds maximum takeoff weight to comply with Basic Med, as well as retaining the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck and Halo emergency autoland system—which secured the Collier Trophy as well as FLYING’s Innovation Award in 2021.

READ MORE: We Fly: Piper M600/SLS Halo

Pushing past the specs on the M600/SLS it will replace, the M700 is projected to meet the following targets:

• Maximum range: 1,149 nm at the 301-ktas maximum cruise speed and 1,424 nm at normal cruise speed
• Takeoff distance: 1,994 ft over a 50-ft obstacle, at sea level on a standard—-a 24 percent improvement from the M600 at 2,635 ft under the same conditions
• Departure climb: 2,048 fpm—a 32 percent improvement over the M600—at MTOW
• Time to climb: 13.9 minutes to FL250, covering 34 nm and burning 97 pounds of fuel, all 25 to 35 percent improvements over the M600
• Landing distance: up to a 26 percent reduction in ground roll over the M600
• Garmin’s PlaneSync technology, adding remote aircraft status capability using the Garmin Pilot app, and database downloads while the aircraft is powered down

“The M700 Fury is a beautifully efficient, cross-country thoroughbred that gives our customers a performance-based flight experience with economics never seen before,” said Piper Aircraft’s president and CEO, John Calcagno. “We listened, and we delivered. The M700 Fury encompasses power, performance and the most advanced safety measures available today and an overall value proposition that is extremely compelling to individuals and corporate flight departments alike.”

Customers can choose from six interior schemes with updated leathers and design elements.

Following certification, U.S. deliveries will begin immediately, according to Piper, with validations with Canada, EASA, the U.K., and Brazil on the horizon next. With the sunset of the M600, the M-series now encompasses the M700, M500 turboprop retaining the PT6A-42A at 500 hp, and M350 piston-powered high-performance singles.
Look soon for FLYING’s We Fly pilot report on the M700.

The post Piper Lifts the Veil on the M700 Fury, Its Fastest Single Yet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Daher’s aircraft division reported deliveries of 74 aircraft from its TBM and Kodiak lines of turboprop singles during 2023. The company also said it has logged orders for 100 more of the aircraft for delivery this year and in early 2025.

The TBM family of aircraft led the results with 56 TBM 960s and 910s delivered, and the Kodiak 100 and 900 utility models accounted for 18 deliveries. The numbers mark a level state overall from 2022 for the OEM, echoing the challenges still presented in the global aerospace industry revolving around both supply chain and maintaing a steady workforce.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Kodiak 900

“These figures reflect the market’s stabilization as we continue to see a strong demand for TBM and Kodiak aircraft, although challenges persist in affecting our industry—including employment and supply chain issues,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s aircraft division. “There have been efforts made to address these difficulties and improve the situation. We are seeing the results of our solutions in the employment field through internal training and the attraction of new talent. For the supply chain, the importance of delivering on time will enable us to continue seeking opportunities in a strong market.”

• READ MORE: Daher Celebrates Milestone TBM Deliveries, Kodiak Success

Daher said most of the TBMs delivered during 2023 were top-of-the-line TBM 960s, with the largest percentage going to the North American market. Among those deliveries, 43 went to the U.S. and two to Canada. The remainder of deliveries included seven in Europe, three in Latin America, and one in Asia.

Most of the 18 Kodiak aircraft delivered last year were sent to a range of private owners and “multimission operators” in North America, with the North Carolina Forest Service’s aviation division among the company’s new customers. Deliveries included the Kodiak 100 Series III, which now has a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller as standard equipment, and the larger, faster Kodiak 900, which Daher introduced in 2022.   

• WATCH: We Fly: Kodiak 100 in Training

A total of 1,187 TBMs and 339 Kodiaks had been delivered worldwide through the end of 2023, and the global fleet has logged nearly 3 million flight hours. The aircraft are supported under Daher’s newly consolidated network called TBM & Kodiak Care.

The post Daher Delivers 74 Aircraft During 2023, Reports Orders for 100 More appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Daher’s Aircraft Division has expanded its maintenance support network in Australia with the appointment of Airflite as an authorized service center for the company’s TBM family of aircraft.

Airflite, which is based in Western Australia, previously received repair and overhaul approval for Daher’s series of Kodiak utility aircraft. Airflite operates from two primary facilities located at Perth International Airport (YPPH) and Jandakot Airport (YPJT). The company also operates a maintenance hangar in the southeast Australian state of Victoria at Moorabbin Airport (YMMB).

• READ MORE: Daher Partners with Czech Service and Sales Provider

Airflite’s range of services for TBM and Kodiak includes structural repairs, avionics, batteries, propellers, painting, and nondestructive testing. The company has a mobile repair team that can support Daher aircraft across the continent. Airflite also is Daher’s aircraft sales representative in Australia for TBM and Kodiak.

To qualify as an authorized TBM service center, Airflite staff members completed Daher’s training, which includes a two-week mechanic course with a Daher instructor and training covering the TBM Total Care Program and warranty coverage. 

• READ MORE: Daher Marks 1,100th Delivery of TBM Series

“We’ve been extremely impressed with the scope and depth of Airflite’s capabilities and its capacity, which is backed by rigorous internal training and a philosophy that mirrors Daher’s strategy of empowering employees in advancing the culture of safety,” said Raphael Maitre, vice president of customer support at Daher’s Aircraft Division.

Said Kristian Constantinides, Airflite’s general manager: “Our appointment by Daher as a TBM and Kodiak service center is a recognition of our level of expertise and commitment to maintaining and servicing these aircraft. It is a testament to the trust Daher places in Airflite’s capabilities.” 

Airflite said TBM and Kodiak aircraft are well suited to operations in Australia, which is known for remote airfields and vast stretches between population centers. Daher noted that Air Gold Coast, a maintenance operation based in Coolangatta, Queensland, remains as an authorized TBM service center.

The post Daher Names Australia’s Airflite as Authorized Service Center for TBM appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Daher announced the delivery of its 100th TBM 960 single-engine turboprop this week, handing it off to first-time TBM owner Kevin Kaseff. Kaseff, who is the president of private commercial real estate investment firm Titan Real Estate Investment Group, purchased the aircraft through California-based TBM distributor Avex.

“My home base is near Santa Maria on California’s central coast, which has very limited commercial airline service, so having a personal airplane is extremely valuable as I continue to develop my business,” Kaseff said. “When I decided to upgrade from a piston-engine airplane to a high-performance aircraft, I searched the market and found that the TBM 960 was the best choice for me.”

Daher launched the TBM 960 at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in April 2022. The model represents the fifth generation of the company’s TBM 900 series. Daher has delivered more than 500 TBM 900 series turboprops to date.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Daher TBM 960

“We are particularly proud that the 100th TBM 960 has been received by a newcomer to the TBM community,” said Daher Aircraft Division senior vice president Nicolas Chabbert. “It confirms that the TBM 960 is the quintessential TBM—meeting the expectations of entrepreneurs like Kevin Kaseff, who require a safe and efficient individual transportation tool.”

Powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine, the model offers a top cruise speed of 330 knots, 1,730 nm range, and maximum payload of 1,446 pounds. The engine, along with the aircraft’s Hartzell five-blade composite propeller, links to a dual-channel digital engine and propeller electronic control system (EPECS).

The 960 also features an icing protection system, flight envelope monitoring via the electronic stability and protection (ESP) and under speed protection (USP) systems, emergency descent mode (EDM), and HomeSafe emergency autoland system. The model can seat up to six and comes equipped with the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck.

The post Daher Delivers 100th TBM 960 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Epic Aircraft E1000 GX single-engine turboprop has received its type certificate from Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (National Civil Aviation Agency/ANAC).

The approval clears the way for Epic to begin deliveries in the region, including those for a 34 aircraft order from Brazil-based charter and fractional operator Avantto. Epic announced that it had entered into a long-term partnership with Avantto, reportedly “one of the largest operators in the private aviation market in Latin America,” in August.

Deliveries are expected to take place over five years with the first two E1000 GX aircraft scheduled to arrive by the end of December. The aircraft will be joining the Avantto fleet as part of the company’s fractional program.

“Over the last four months, Epic Aircraft has worked closely with the Brazilian regulators to achieve ANAC certification of the E1000 GX,” said Epic Aircraft CEO Doug King. “This is a huge accomplishment in such a short time. We want to thank the FAA and ANAC for all their hard work. We are excited to launch our sales in Brazil and join Avantto in providing top-notch aviation solutions to the Latin American market.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic Aircraft E1000 GX

The E1000 GX earned type certificate approval from the FAA in July 2021. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A engine, the model boasts a top cruise speed of 333 knots, 1,560 nm range, and full-fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. It comes equipped with a Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite, Garmin GFC 700 automated flight control system, and a five-blade composite propeller from Hartzell.

Epic reported last week that the GX had received its flight into known icing (FIKI) certification from the FAA. According to the company, the FIKI modifications will be standard starting with the first aircraft delivered in 2024. Retrofit options will also be available for previously delivered certified aircraft, including the E1000 model.

The post Epic Aircraft Receives ANAC Approval for E1000 <i>GX</i> appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Epic Aircraft’s E1000 GX single-engine turboprop has received its flight into known icing (FIKI) certification from the FAA.

According to the company, the newly approved de-icing system includes an optical ice detector and de-ice boots on the wings, horizontal stabilizer leading edges, and engine inlet along with a bleed air heated windshield and electrically heated propeller, air data probes, and AOA sensors. The E1000 GX is expected to incorporate those design modifications beginning with the first aircraft delivered in 2024.

“This certification process is one of the most challenging,” said Epic Aircraft CEO Doug King. “We began testing several years ago, flying the E1000 GX in all of the FAA-specified natural icing conditions. This FAA certification establishes that the E1000 GX can withstand known icing conditions in a real-world operating environment with minimal changes required of the airplane.”

Epic reports that more than 450 flight hours went into testing the GX for the FIKI certification. Testing began using 3D printed artificial ice shapes, going on to include flights in in natural icing conditions along with test “in normal operation and ice protection system failure conditions in icing tunnels and with artificial ice shapes to simulate ice build up attached to the aircraft’s airfoils.” Epic says it tested 18 separate icing configurations in two icing wind tunnels, logging a total of 280 hours of icing wind tunnel testing.

King noted that retrofits for previously delivered certified aircraft, to include the E1000, will be available at the company’s factory service center in Bend, Oregon. His goal is to have the existing fleet upgraded by early 2025.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic Aircraft E1000 GX

The latest version of Epic’s E1000, the six-seat, all-composite E1000 GX received its FAA type certificate in July 2021. The GX offers a top cruise speed of 333 knots, full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds, and range of 1,560 nm. It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A engine and comes equipped with a three-screen Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite, Garmin GFC 700 automated flight control system, and Hartzell five-blade composite propeller. 

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The airstrips that the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has defended and nurtured over the past 20 years remain viable because an urgent message was triggered to safeguard them for the future. 

They represent some of our most precious resources in aviation, and a collection of more than 11,000 volunteers coordinated by the RAF have helped maintain them and promote them to the flying community.

Join FLYING’s editor-in-chief Julie Boatman as she flies in with a work crew in a Daher Kodiak 100 to experience the camaraderie and satisfaction that participating in such an important effort can bring.

Look for the full story in our feature in the latest issue of FLYING, Issue 944 for December 2023/January 2024. Subscribers will receive it in their mailbox or inbox soon.

The post We Fly: The RAF at 20 Years into Moose Creek appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

South African air carrier Federal Airlines, known as FedAir, has announced the addition of six new Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX aircraft to its fleet. The company said the aircraft set a standard in reliability and passenger comfort.

According to the company, the aircraft are especially well suited to its focus on providing air travel to key safari and game reserve destinations in South Africa. FedAir said the Caravan 208B EX allows it to provide its guests with improved fleet reliability, technology, and an enhanced travel experience.

• READ MORE: Hartzell Expands Composite Prop Series in Top Prop Program

The Caravan 208B EX is known for dependable and efficient performance and is popular worldwide among safari and charter operators, regional airlines, and cargo carriers. The aircraft’s notable features include the latest advanced avionics and control systems, more powerful, efficient Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 engines, and more comfortable interiors for passengers embarking on luxury safari excursions.

• READ MORE: Hartzell, Wipaire Conclude Testing of Yukon Prop, Await STC

“This new fleet of six 208B EX aircraft represents a [$19.9 million] investment by us into our business and the country’s key exclusive safari tourism industry, and will provide at least 10 years of safe, reliable, and enhanced air travel for our guests and customers,” said Federal Airlines CEO Mark Hurst. “We are proud to be at the forefront of the tourism travel industry, delivering air connectivity and exclusive shuttle and charter services whilst continuously striving to improve the overall travel experience for our guests and international travelers visiting South Africa from all corners of the globe.”

Group chairman Rashid Wally said the new Caravans “will enable us to continue to offer our customers the highest levels of service and reliability, and we are grateful and encouraged by the continued support of our loyal industry partners and clients.”

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Daher marked another important step in improving processes and aligning its operations at the plant in Sandpoint, Idaho, that the OEM acquired from Quest Kodiak in 2019—the opening of a new paint facility. The goal? To bring this portion of Kodiak 100 and 900 manufacturing in-house and better track its quality.

In past years, newly completed Kodiaks were flown to other locations outside of the state for paint—and required the removal of flight control surfaces in the process. Now, the company can keep it local. 

“This underscores our commitment to the Kodiak’s future as we evolve the aircraft family,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s Aircraft Division. “It follows the launch of two new Kodiak versions since Daher purchased the product line four years ago: the enhanced Kodiak 100 Series III, which we introduced during 2021; and the larger Kodiak 900, unveiled in July 2022.”

READ MORE: We Fly the Daher Kodiak 900, Ready for Grand Adventures

Daher invested $2.7 million in the various elements of the operation, including distinct aircraft preparation and paint booths and the employment of already-skilled personnel to accomplish the work. The 9,000-square-foot facility was designed and constructed by local contractors. It allows for the process to replicate that in place for TBMs at Tarbes, France, where components are painted individually—fuselage, wings, control surfaces, cowlings and doors—before joining together on the production line. A more environmentally friendly electrostatic process is used to apply the paint, with more consistent results and a mirror finish.

SAF in Sandpoint?

In a press briefing at NBAA-BACE this week in Las Vegas, Chabbert indicated that Daher has just begun the process to bring sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its Sandpoint facility so that it can both deliver aircraft and conduct its corporate and flight test operations using SAF much as it does in the company’s Tarbes location.

When asked about any possible difference in acceptance of the use of SAF by Kodiak customers and personnel in Sandpoint, Chabbert confirmed its positive reception: “You know, the funny thing is that there is no resistance. It is actually something that has been requested by the people in Sandpoint. So I can tell you that I believe that, contrary to what people will say—that there is more consciousness in Europe as opposed to the U.S.—I don’t feel that way. I think there is the same level of concern. It’s treated differently and with a different approach. But [in] the end, it’s not the approach that counts—it’s the result.”

New TKS ‘Bio’ Fluid

In another eco-minded improvement for its Kodiak line, Daher has introduced a new de-icing fluid that will reduce environmental impact. In partnership with TKS supplier CAV Systems, the fluid, TKS 406 Bio, replaces the DTD-406B product in use. TKS systems can be found not only on Kodiaks, but also the legacy SOCATA TB-20 and -21 Trinidads. 

“I think it is important that the way we are going to reduce [the pollution] of our activities is not just—and is beyond—the use of fuel,” said Chabbert.

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Textron Aviation on Tuesday announced delivery of the 100th Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop to the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC), one of the company’s longtime customers.

The delivery further establishes the King Air as the most popular family of turboprop business aircraft, Textron said.

“We take pride in providing aircraft solutions for our customers with the latest in aviation technology,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron’s senior vice president of global sales and flight operations. “The King Air 360’s updated airframe, avionics, and interior provide our passengers with a comfortable and reliable flight experience.” The King Air family of aircraft is renowned for its versatility and reliability, and this 100th delivery of the 360 is an exciting milestone in the continued success of a legendary product.”

• READ MORE: Beechcraft King Air 360 Gets Electric Air Con

CBCC is a pioneer in cancer research, testing, and treatment, including clinical trials that have led to new drug developments in cancer care. The company, which provides patients with access to clinical trials around the world, said the new aircraft will aid in its efforts.

“The addition of this aircraft will be a game-changer for us in terms of productivity,” said Dr. Ravi Patel, medical director at CBCC. “We are excited about the increased capability the King Air 360 will give us to globally expand our cancer care delivery and research”

Textron said 7,800 King Airs have been delivered to customers since 1964. The fleet has logged a total of more than 62 million flight hours, including commercial and special missions around the world and service with all branches of the U.S. military.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Beechcraft King Air 360

The King Air 360’s notable features include the ThrustSense Autothrottle, which automatically manages engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, and go-around phases of flight. Other upgrades include a 10 percent decrease in cabin altitude at the aircraft’s certified ceiling of 35,000 feet compared with the King Air 350i.

The 360’s cabin has been redesigned with “craftsman-built cabinetry, partitions, and side ledges, upgraded materials and finishes, along with all new interior schemes,” Textron said. Other standard features on all new King Airs include pull-out work tables, power outlets, USB charging stations, and a private lavatory.

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Daher celebrated the 500th delivery of its TBM 900 series turboprops with the latest model, the TBM 960, which went to a private owner in the U.S.

TBM 900-series aircraft are the best selling single-engine turboprops in the 33-year history of the TBM 700 program. Total deliveries now exceed all the previous TBM 700- and TBM 800-series aircraft produced from 1990 to 2014. Daher has a 100-plus aircraft backlog for TBM 960, representing more than two years of production.

Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president  of Daher’s aircraft division, says that the firm constantly looks for product improvements, seeks to enhance operational efficiency, and listens to customers’ concerns. “We are constantly listening to our customers feedback,” said Chabbert in a press briefing at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Conference and Expo, “and thanks to our major suppliers and any of the vendors that are following this program, we are in constant evolution, and we are able to make step changes on the aircraft—some are minor, some are major,” like the Pratt & Whitney PT6E-66XT on the TBM 960.

To this end, TBM 900-series aircraft incorporate several aero upgrades, including a ram recovery engine air inlet that boosts power output in climb and cruise, stability enhancements, winglets to cut induced drag, and a Hartzell five-blade scimitar prop that improves takeoff performance and reduces noise.

The TBM 960 is powered by a 850 shp, EPECS (FADEC)-equipped PT6E-66XT that provides carefree handling by means of a single power lever that controls both prop and engine. Chabbert quipped in the briefing that no longer can jet operators boast that turbofan aircraft are easier to fly than turboprops. “A lot of our customers—as you can see, 92 of them—are super happy to have this edition, which basically makes them equal to all of their friends who are flying jets,” said Chabbert. “So now, turboprops first!” The 960’s touchscreen GTC-controlled Garmin G3000 avionics system features an autothrottle, upset recovery function, emergency descent mode, and HomeSafe emergency safe return auto landing system.

TBM Speed, Efficiency—and SAF

Top speed is 330 ktas, endowing the TBM 960 with light jet-like block times on everyday 300 nm missions, but with 40- to 50-percent fuel savings. Daher is striving to provide sustainable aviation solutions, including starting flight tests of its Ecopulse TBM hybrid-electric aircraft, developed jointly with Airbus and Safran, in 2024. Chabbert also is a strong proponent of switching from fossil-based jet fuel to sustainable aviation fuel as the most promising short-term means of achieving zero net aircraft emissions by 2050. 

“We need people to invest and to trust the future and to make that aviation fuel available on a large scale,” said Chabbert. “We just cannot go neutral on a very small portion; we need major investment from petroleum companies first but we also have to have all of the users adopt SAF—this is the key to success.”

The post TBM 900 Series Marks 500 Deliveries for Daher appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In the midst of marking its 85th year serving the aviation industry, McCauley Propeller Systems celebrates an important milestone. The division of Textron Aviation announced the first delivery and entry into service of the C780 propeller on the Beechcraft King Air B300 series—bringing the twin turboprop’s means of propulsion “into the family.” 

The option joins McCauley props available on the B200, as well as B300 choices from Hartzell, MT Propeller, and others.

The 105-inch-diameter, four-blade aluminum, swept-blade prop system achieved type certification in July.

At a media briefing on Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, the Textron Aviation team expressed its enthusiasm for McCauley’s achievement, likening it to the type certification of a new aircraft model for either of its aircraft brands, Cessna, Beechcraft, or Bell.

“The new McCauley C780 offers King Air customers increased performance, a quieter cabin, and greater efficiency,” Heidi McNary, vice president and general manager of McCauley Propeller Systems, said in a statement. “For 85 years, McCauley has been committed to delivering creative solutions and driving customers forward with their pioneering designs and strategies. We look forward to continuing to support the future of flight and legendary aircraft like the Beechcraft King Air.”

The first installation went on a King Air 350 owned by ExecuJet Charter Service in Florida, a private Part 135 charter operator. Interested owners can seek out the installation at Textron Aviation Service Centers or authorized McCauley service facilities.

Prop Stats

The C780 props for the King Air B300 include the following features and benefits, according to Textron Aviation:

• Propeller weight savings of more than 50 pounds 
• Increased takeoff and climb performance
• Reduced noise in the cabin and cockpit
• Extended time between overhauls (TBOs) of 5,000 hours or 72 months
• Textron Aviation’s 4,000 hours or 36-month limited propeller warranty

The King Air 360, which debuted in 2021, retained the four-blade Hartzell props from the 350. 

The post McCauley Celebrates Certification for King Air Props appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an aircraft that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1943 Douglas DC-3

Yes, this aircraft’s maximum gross takeoff weight is 29,000 pounds, not the 2,900 or so that might make more sense to pilots of light piston singles. This is a big airplane, and its ability to lift big loads of passengers and cargo helped make it the first truly practical, profitable airliner. It is also the reason this 1930s design is still flying today. It is still the ideal aircraft for certain missions, which is why you still have a good chance of spotting them at airports across the globe.

This DC-3 demonstrates how an adaptable design can continue to improve and perform decades beyond its expected lifespan—but it’s not just a stock DC-3, if there is such a thing. With 18,878 hours on the airframe, it has been updated with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67R turbine engines that have logged just 50 hours each, and 115-inch propellers. Fuel capacity is 1,030 gallons.

The cabin has room for 32 seats and is equipped with a galley that includes a cooler and hot water dispenser. Modern updates include a fire detection and extinguishing system, heated windshields, LED tip nav and strobe, landing and taxi lights, standby third battery, and de-ice boots.

There is no sign of 1943 in the panel, which includes Garmin GTN 750 nav/coms. Garmin GTX 3000 (2), transponder, Garmin GTS 8000 TCAS ll, Garmin GI 275 electronic instrument, Garmin GI 106A  VOR/localizer/glideslope (2),

Collins 331-3G HSI (2), Collins ALT-50A radar altimeter, L3 WX-500 Stormscope, weather radar, a Pratt & Whitney ADAS+ engine monitoring system, and more.

If your mission profile includes serious, airline-style transport with a touch of “Fate Is the Hunter,” you should take a look at this rare, updated, turbine-converted DC-3, which is available on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the airplane through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: The Douglas DC-3 Changed Aviation Forever
• FLYING Magazine: DC-3: An Airplane for the Ages
• FLYING Magazine: DC-3 Historical Timeline
• Plane & Pilot: Douglas DC-3
• The Aviation Consumer: Warbird Ownership: Respect Required

The post Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 1943 Douglas DC-3 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Avantto, a leading executive aircraft-sharing and fractional-ownership company in Latin America, said it is adding Epic Aircraft’s E1000 GX turboprop single to its fleet. The move is part of the company’s expansion plan.

Avantto said it plans to establish new operations in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Bahai, and Goiás, and chose the E1000 GX because of its ability to reach remote destinations and operate from short runways which, the company said, are “a reality at most regional airports in Brazil.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic E1000

“We have great confidence in the partnership with Epic Aircraft and the success of the
E1000 GX. We have placed an order for 34 planes for the fractional program to be delivered over a span of five years. The first two will be delivered in 2023,” said Rogério Andrade, CEO of Avantto.

Andrade said the aircraft will be used to improve its sharing program’s services in areas where the demand for aviation services is strong but access to commercial flights is limited.

“We are excited to launch our sales in Brazil through this long-term partnership with Avantto, a leader in the country’s aviation sector. This agreement signifies our mutual commitment to providing top-notch aviation solutions to the Latin American market,” said Doug King, CEO of Epic Aircraft.

• READ MORE: Epic E1000 Gains Type Inspection Authorization

Andrade noted that Avantto’s operational experience and strategy of offering high-performance products helped make the partnership with Epic an especially good fit. “For over a decade, we have innovated processes, which is why Epic Aircraft attracted us so much due to its technology, operational costs, and performance,” he said. 

Epic designed the E1000 GX to set new standards for single engine turboprops in terms of aerodynamics and performance. The six-place aircraft has a 1200-horsepower engine and a maximum cruise speed of 333 ktas.

WATCH: We Fly: Watch Our Report on the Epic E1000 GX

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Textron Aviation said the National Civil Aviation Authority of Brazil, known as ANAC, has awarded type certification for the company’s Cessna SkyCourier twin turboprop utility aircraft, giving it access to the country’s vibrant aviation market.

The company said the SkyCourier, which received FAA certification last year, “offers an unparalleled combination of performance, capacity, and capability.” The aircraft’s versatility makes it ideal for service in Brazil, where demand for air transport is growing and the geography can be challenging.

• READ MORE: Textron Aviation Delivers 1st Passenger Cessna SkyCourier

“The Cessna SkyCourier’s high payload capacity, short takeoff and landing capability, and cost efficiency make it a great choice for operators in Brazil,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron’s senior vice president, global sales and flight operations. “The aircraft’s versatility and performance equip customers in the region with smart solutions for their unique missions and circumstances.”

The SkyCourier is designed to serve remote locations and areas with limited infrastructure while performing missions ranging from passenger and cargo transport to special operations. The aircraft’s recently certified gravel kit option enhances its ability to operate from unimproved strips.

• READ MORE: Cessna SkyCourier Gains FAA Type Certification

The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines mounted on the wings and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas. It can carry up to 19 passengers in its cabin, which can be reconfigured for cargo using quick-release seats and removable bulkheads. The aircraft has up to a 6,000-pound payload capacity.

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