A New Generation of Luxury Turboprops Could Rival Your Private Jet
Turboprops have long maintained a utilitarian reputation. “They can take a lot of weight out of a very short field, a high field, and even an unimproved field,” says industry analyst Brian Foley. “Like a rugged S.U.V.” But a new class of more luxurious and technologically sophisticated turboprops may shift that perception. Planes such as the dual-engine Beechcraft King Air 360ER and single-engine models that include the Beechcraft Denali, Pilatus PC-12 Pro, and Daher TBM 980 are elevating the cabin experience to rival that of private jets, while enabling greater flexibility and luring new buyers.
“A person might have the resources to jet around. But when they want to do some mountain-type flying, remote-type flying, these aircraft would fit the bill better than a jet would,” Foley says. He describes the most upscale turboprops as having “a Ferrari feel.”
Once viewed as a more pedestrian plane, the Beechcraft King Air 360ER is now helping to give the turboprop category more class.
Courtesy of Beechcraft
The redesigned Pilatus thus debuts a “more sophisticated” interior, according to Jérôme Zbinden, the brand’s head of marketing. BMW’s Designworks consultancy created the cabin themes, which incorporate better exterior visibility, new storage spaces, and taller, fully reclining, hand-stitched-leather executive seats. Even the more workaday King Air ups the luxury quotient with premium customizable materials.
These planes also now integrate satellite internet, allowing passengers to stream entertainment and make phone and video calls without interruption. “It makes it more pleasurable to travel for the family members or friends or hunting buddies,” Foley says.
Pilatus and Daher have also made major cockpit upgrades with the Garmin G3000 Prime avionics system. “This provides a more intuitive way to control the airplane with more touch-screen surfaces,” fewer menus, and larger secondary displays, according to Michel Adam De Villiers, Daher Aircraft’s vice president of sales. “They give you a more global vision and situational awareness.”
The cabin of Beechcraft’s King Air 360ER serves as canvas for a palette of premium materials complemented by improved tech.
Courtesy of Beechcraft
Garmin’s system adds another layer of safety with its Autoland feature. In the event of pilot incapacitation, the system will “broadcast an emergency signal, look at the weather in the surrounding area, decide what airport to head to, communicate with the tower, and come to a complete full-stop landing,” Foley says.
An even bigger change is on the horizon, with the all-new Beechcraft Denali planning to enter service next year. It will combine the advanced avionics, comfort, and versatility of its competitors with G.E. Aerospace’s new Catalyst engine that promises 10 percent higher cruise power, almost 20 percent lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, greater durability, and longer range. “That could be a real game changer,” Foley says. The turboprop is finally trading its toolbox for a tuxedo.
