Alerts Sign-up
GE Aerospace’s Catalyst turboprop engine is meeting and exceeding its targeted performance numbers and is on track for FAA certification by year-end, the company announced this week at EAA AirVenture 2024. The engine powers Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop, which is set for certification next year. Both are on display at AirVenture, marking the first time the GE display is hosting the actual engine instead of a mockup.
Engines in the flight-test program have logged more than 2,100 hours and 900 flights, which “gives a lot of confidence in the performance,” noted Paul Corkery, head of GE's Catalyst program. Compared to other 1,300-shp powerplants, he said the GE engine burns 18% less fuel while producing 10% more power at altitude.
Catalyst's Fadec engine controls, adapted from systems on larger GE turbine engines, are integrated with the Denali’s Garmin G3000 avionics and autothrottle. This integration enables Textron Aviation engineers to design a single-lever power control that simplifies pilot workload and protects the engine from exceeding critical parameters.
