Textron among local exhibitors at Oshkosh air show

Scores of Wichitans are at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., this week for the world’s largest general aviation fly-in and convention.

Companies are exhibiting products, and flying enthusiasts are enjoying rows and rows of aircraft on display, including warbirds, vintage aircraft, home-builts and others.

About 500,000 people from more than 70 countries are expected at the show, which features daily air shows, nightly concerts, forums, workshops and other events.

More than 800 exhibitors are registered.

More than 10,000 aircraft arrive at Wittman Regional Airport and other area airports in east-central Wisconsin for AirVenture each year.

Textron Aviation said in a news release it will be featuring the entire line of Beechcraft and Cessna piston, turboprop and jet products.

The show, which runs through Sunday, is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Cessna Aircraft, a division of Textron Aviation, said it’s confirming its commitment to developing alternative fuels for the general aviation market with the launch of the Turbo Skyhawk JT-A, which joins the Turbo Skylane JT-A as the latest diesel-powered airplane in its single-aisle product line-up.

The Turbo Skyhawk JT-A is on display this week at the show.

“We’ve been working for a few years now to find new, reliable alternate fuel solutions for the Cessna Skyhawk to meet changing environmental regulations, particularly in Europe, as well as the limited global supply of currently used 100 low-lead gasoline, and technology has led us to the Turbo Skyhawk JT-A,” Joe Hepburn, senior vice president of piston aircraft said in a statement. “The recent advances and growing maturity in diesel engine technology in the aviation market now give us the means to satisfy a growing demand around the world.”

The four-seat plane’s maximum range is 1,012 nautical miles – a 58 percent increase over the standard Skyhawk. Fuel burn is expected to be reduced by 25 percent.

Textron Aviation plans to offer the diesel fuel option starting in 2015.

Cessna also announced Monday a new interior and exterior enhancements for its Cessna TTx single-engine airplane, called the Surge.

“The TTx is our top-of-the-line aircraft in the single-engine piston product line and our customers have told us they would like additional premium options,” Brian Steele, TTx business leader, said in a statement. “The TTx is already the hottest-looking aircraft on the ramp, and the Surge interior and exterior package will only further enhance its presence.”

The Surge premium package includes a special paint scheme, two-tone leather seat covers, custom-fit personalized canopy cover and engine inlet plugs, and personalized floor and wing-walk mats.

Cessna also announced that the McCauley Blackmac C447 aluminum propeller will now come standard on the TTx. It’s the only propeller certified for operation with the recently government-approved Flight Into Known Icing package.

Beechcraft is celebrating the 50th anniversary of King Air production at the show.

The King Air took its first flight in January 1964. Since then, nearly 7,200 King Airs have been delivered.

In the meantime, a sales team from Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics in Wichita was part of a group of 110 Beechcraft Bonanza and Baron aircraft owners who flew in formation into Wittman Regional Airport for the show.

“Everything was almost perfectly executed – quite an impressive feat, ” Todd Winter, president and CEO of Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, said in an e-mail from the show.

Many of the owners are camping under the wings of their airplanes this year, Winter said.

Arriving in formation en masse has been a tradition at the show in Oshkosh.

James Wiebe, CEO of Belite Enterprises, flew the Belite ProCub Lite, a single-place ultralight aircraft, from the Wichita area to the show. He landed Monday morning and will be exhibiting the plane just off the ultralight runway, the company reports.

Belite is offering an Oshkosh special on its UltraCub and ProCub Lite aircraft, according to its website.

This story was originally published July 28, 2014 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Textron among local exhibitors at Oshkosh air show."