The SkyCourier brings an impressive combination of cabin flexibility, payload capability, performance, and low operating costs to the twin-engine utility segment.
Textron Aviation rolled out the first production unit of twin-engine, large-utility turboprop, the Cessna SkyCourier at their Wichita facility. The latest Cessna SkyCourier has the latest state-of-the-art assembly and fabrication processes and techniques with a new, clean-sheet design. The aircraft is expected to undergo the certification process by next month. Post-certification first production unit will be delivered to the launch customer, FedEx Express with an order of 100 aircraft.
Ron Draper, president, and CEO, Textron Aviation said, “Today is a rewarding day for our employees who have worked to design and build what I believe will become a legendary airplane for our company. The SkyCourier brings an impressive combination of cabin flexibility, payload capability, performance, and low operating costs to the twin-engine utility segment. We look forward to this highly versatile aircraft entering the market very soon.”
FedEx Express and other members of Textron Aviation’s Customer Advisory Board were instrumental in shaping the aircraft’s design, from manufacturing methods and materials to product features and serviceability. Textron Aviation’s highly skilled employees incorporated this feedback and found opportunities to maximize quality and precision while meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
Production of the SkyCourier incorporates many of the latest advancements in aircraft manufacturing, including the use of monolithic machining throughout the airframe. With this technique, major assemblies are milled from a single piece of metal rather than assembled from smaller pieces, reducing the overall number of parts and resulting in more precise tolerances for easier assembly.
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Designed with serviceability at the forefront, the SkyCourier features quick access points throughout the aircraft for inspection and repairs. The team also developed innovative patent-pending quick-release seats and overhead bins that can be installed quickly by a single operator.
