Textron Aviation has completed a major expansion of its flight test hangar at the company’s East Wichita Campus, strengthening its ability to support growing global demand for the Cessna SkyCourier and ongoing development programmes across its turboprop aircraft portfolio.
The 57,000-square-foot extension adds six new hangar bays to the north side of the facility, significantly increasing capacity for flight test operations. The investment comes as activity continues to ramp up for the twin-engine Cessna SkyCourier, which is attracting increasing interest from commercial passenger, cargo and special missions operators worldwide. The expanded facility will also support continued flight testing and entry-into-service work for the Beechcraft Denali.
According to Textron Aviation, the additional capacity will enable flight test teams to work more efficiently by streamlining aircraft preparation, data collection and evaluation processes. This is expected to be particularly valuable as the SkyCourier takes on a broader range of missions and testing requirements.
The SkyCourier has been designed as a versatile utility aircraft, capable of serving passenger, freight and specialist operational needs through a range of configurations. Its role is also expanding into defence and special missions markets, highlighted by the programme’s first military order. Recent enhancements, including the introduction of an in-flight operable door option, have further increased the aircraft’s flexibility and suitability for diverse operational environments.
Textron said the expansion reflects its commitment to supporting customer demand while maintaining the resources needed to advance aircraft development programmes. The investment is expected to strengthen the company’s ability to support both current production requirements and future growth across its turboprop product line.
