One Of The Few Companies Making Real News In BizAv Updates ANN On The Latest

After some two years of doldrums and disappointment, its nice to update a story with real promise. At the 2011 NBAA Convention we sat down (literally) with Alan Klapmeier to find out the latest goings-on in the arduous process of bringing an innovative new turboprop to the market.

The last big update on the Kestrel project involved their selection of the powerplant... The Kestrel team tells ANN that they went "through a vigorous process to determine which engine would be best suited to power the current product in development.  The Kestrel mission is to combine high cruise speed and long range, while carrying large payloads in and out of short runways, with particular attention to ease and cost of operation." Ultimately they selected the Honeywell TPE331-14GR, citing that "the power and efficiency of the -14GR is ideally suited to this mission. The TPE331-14GR produces 1759 thermodynamic horsepower, but the Kestrel will flat rate the engine to approximately 1000 shaft horsepower, to allow for better high altitude, high temperature performance."

Kestrel Aircraft is led by general aviation entrepreneur, Alan Klapmeier, the primary vision behind Cirrus Design's SR20 and SR22 (and, unfortunately, their moribund jet program). Based on the original work done by Farnborough Aircraft, the Kestrel airplane will offer six to eight seats in an all composite, single-engine turboprop, boasting a broad performance envelope, and newest technologies available in personal and business aircraft.

FMI: www.kestrel.aero, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews