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.

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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. 

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McCauley, a division of Textron Aviation, announced on its social media channels Wednesday that the C1106 prop completed vibration testing married to the GE Catalyst turboprop powerplant expected to drive the Denali.

The 5-blade composite propeller would be the first to the field with the Catalyst. It completed wind tunnel testing last December in Switzerland at RUAG.

“This is a significant milestone for the entire McCauley team,” said John Dandurand, vice president and general manager, McCauley Propeller Systems. “The completion of vibration testing brings us one step closer to certification of our new propeller for the high-performance Denali turboprop.”

In a report to FLYING, McCauley characterized the nature of the testing just completed. “The vibration testing consisted of conducting strain tests from idle to maximum power,” the company said. “The propeller exceeded all requirements. The Catalyst engine uses a proprietary internal electronic propeller control system, enabling the FADEC to optimize performance during all phases of flight.”

Denali Prop Specs

The 105-inch diameter C1106 prop is fully feathering, with reverse pitch, and nickel-plated leading edge guards. The prop actuates via a single-acting hydraulic control system. The one-piece forged aluminum hub is a new design for the company, and it weighs 150 pounds. Electric anti-ice and de-ice functions will be included as well on the Denali installation.

McCauley targets a time between overhauls (TBO) of 6,000 hours or 72 calendar months. Textron Aviation now anticipates certification of the Denali in the second half of 2024, following a rescheduling of the timeline to accommodate the concurrent Cessna SkyCourier program.

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