Textron Aviation expands hangar to meet Cessna SkyCourier demand

The expanded facility will primarily serve accelerating SkyCourier flight test activity.

Textron Aviation has completed a 57,000sqft expansion of its flight test hangar at its East Wichita Campus, adding six new hangar bays to support growing demand for the Cessna SkyCourier turboprop.

The expanded facility will primarily serve accelerating SkyCourier flight test activity and will also support entry-into-service work for the Beechcraft Denali.

“As demand for the Cessna SkyCourier continues to grow across commercial, cargo and special missions markets, it’s critical that our facilities and teams are positioned to support that momentum,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of Sales & Marketing.

Brad White, senior vice president of Manufacturing Operations, added the extra space allows test teams to run multiple profiles in parallel. “That capability is critical as the SkyCourier supports a growing range of real-world missions for operators around the globe,” he said.

The SkyCourier is a twin-engine, high-wing turboprop offered in freighter and 19-passenger variants, with a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds and a range of 900 nautical miles. The aircraft has recently expanded into defense applications, including its first military order, and gained an in-flight operable door option for special missions use.