Textron eAviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced it will conduct flight testing for its Nexus eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) full-scale technology demonstrator aircraft at Salina Regional Airport (SLN) in collaboration with the Salina Airport Authority. This program will follow the successful conclusion of initial restrained flight tests, which are planned for 2025 at the National Institute of Aviation Research facility in Wichita. The flight test program at Salina Regional Airport will be instrumental in validating the aircraft’s full performance envelope.
The Nexus is a multi-mission aircraft designed to address the global demand for sustainable aviation solutions. This zero-emission aircraft, configured for one pilot and four passengers, is powered by a distributed electric propulsion system. It features four tilting propellers and two aft stationary vertical rotors, enabling a wide range of applications such as passenger transport, public aircraft operations and cargo services.
Salina Regional Airport has established itself as a key site for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) testing, having hosted Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Integration Pilot Program (IPP) and Beyond programs. The airport’s leadership in UAS innovation is further bolstered by the presence of the Kansas State University Applied Aviation Research Center (AARC), which conducts cutting-edge UAS research and operations. Given its extensive history, proven success in UAS operations, and broad access to airspace, Salina Regional Airport is an ideal location for conducting these pivotal tests and advancing the future of aviation.
“Kansas boasts a rich aviation history, and we’re proud to work alongside the Salina Airport Authority to test these emerging technologies so close to home,” said Kriya Shortt, President & CEO of Textron eAviation. “The support and facilities provided by the Salina Airport Authority are vital as we advance towards bringing the Nexus eVTOL to market.”
The remotely piloted flight-test program at Salina Regional Airport (SLN) will evaluate the Nexus eVTOL’s performance under various conditions, simulating a wide range of operational scenarios.
“We are thrilled to partner with Textron eAviation on this exciting project,” said Pieter Miller, Executive Director of the Salina Airport Authority. “Salina Regional Airport has a longstanding tradition of supporting aviation innovation, and we look forward to contributing to the success of the Nexus eVTOL program.”
In addition to supporting the flight testing for the Nexus eVTOL, the collaboration among Kansas State University, the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Salina Regional Airport underscores their shared commitment to advancing aviation technology in Kansas.
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About Textron eAviation
Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Textron eAviation Inc., part of the Textron eAviation segment of Textron Inc., is focused on sustainable flying, backed by Textron’s 100 years of expertise and the restless spirit for innovation that is embodied in its Pipistrel, Cessna, Beechcraft and Bell brands.
The Textron eAviation business segment also includes Pipistrel, a Slovenian based manufacturer of light aircraft, including the world’s first and currently only, type-certified electric aircraft, and Textron eAviation GmbH, a developer of digital flight controls under the Amazilia Aerospace brand. Taking the lead in Textron’s development of sustainably powered flight, Textron eAviation is leveraging the industry-leading product design, certification, manufacturing, and aftermarket solutions from across Textron’s businesses, coupled with the acquired expertise of Pipistrel and Amazilia Aerospace, to pursue research and development initiatives related to sustainable aviation solutions.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
About The Salina Airport Authority
The Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center, both operated by the Salina Airport Authority in Salina, Kansas, serve as a premier aviation facility and a thriving business hub in the central United States. The airport accommodates both commercial and general aviation needs with modern amenities and extensive services. Adjacent to the airport, the Airport Industrial Center hosts over 125 businesses and organizations, generating 7,005 total jobs and contributing nearly $1.3 billion in total economic activity according to a Docking Institute Economic Impact Study. Together, they form a dynamic economic engine for the region, providing transportation, employment opportunities, and fostering economic growth in Salina and the surrounding areas.
Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers.
