About the Kestrel

Get more out of life.
Owning an airplane changes you. From my first hours in a Cessna 140, the
freedom and flexibility, the efficient use of time, and just the sheer beauty
of flight have become indispensable to how I live my life. But over many years
of flying, I’ve discovered that I can’t fly an airplane without wanting to make it
better—easier to use, safer, more accessible and more capable. It has become
my passion.
Alan Klapmeier
President & CEO
That passion led me to start Cirrus Design where we learned a lot about
what works and what doesn’t. We were able to make flying easier and safer,
and an achievable dream for thousands of pilots. The team at Kestrel Aircraft
shares my passion for flight, and we are committed to changing the world of
aviation once more. Many of the team are friends who have worked together
for years, and know the importance and the reward of getting the small details
exactly right. Reward in the form of stress-free performance, ease of use and
increased safety.
As a pilot, I always want more. I want to fly faster, farther and higher, to land
at shorter airstrips in remote locations. And I want to share those pleasures
with my family and friends. But performance is not enough. My airplane has
to be easy to use.
For me, easy means an airplane with one powerful engine. It means responsive
controls and great handling. It means logical and intuitive systems. It means
being able to get in without hurting my back! It means excellent visibility,
comfortable seats, and room for all kinds of baggage. It means rugged
construction, exemplary reliability, and “anytime, anywhere” customer
support. And it means having a feeling of not just being in an aircraft,
but of being at home.
The Kestrel team is totally dedicated to realizing all of these goals.
All of us at Kestrel are working on this airplane because we would
rather do this than anything else in the world. We are passionately
committed to making the experience of flight as good as it can be.
I know this airplane will change my life again.
I hope it can change yours too.
The Kestrel cockpit, with Garmin G3000 avionics.
AFTER ALL YOU’VE ACHIEVED,
WHY COMPROMISE NOW?
The Kestrel is an all-new aircraft in a class that has seen very little change in the last
20 years. Developed by a team that has revolutionized General Aviation, it is designed
without compromise for the way you want to live. It is engineered to set new standards.
In an airplane, “easy” changes everything. So rather than accept the status
quo, we have questioned everything to develop an aircraft that sets new
standards. We have designed the Kestrel around you. The spacious cockpit,
small central pedestal and ergonomic side yoke control make it easy to get
to your seat. Once seated, the wrap-around heated windscreen offers
panoramic visibility. The central MFD is oriented towards the pilot for
better readability, and the glareshield is kept low and unobtrusive.
The Kestrel uses the next-generation Garmin G3000 avionics suite.
With two, or optionally three 14-inch screens, and two touchscreen
controllers, this intuitive system makes your flying safe and easy. The fully
integrated autopilot incorporates Garmin’s Electronic Stability & Protection
system, and a stick pusher for maximum safety. And RVSM capability lets
you use the Kestrel’s 31,000 ft ceiling.
The Kestrel’s Honeywell TPE331-14 turboprop is a delight to fly. It is a
direct-drive engine, which responds immediately to power changes. It
delivers 1,000 shp in the Kestrel, so takeoff from short runways will not be a
problem. The engine’s flat rating means that power will always be there for
you, even when fully loaded at hot and high airports. It has a class-leading
5,000 hour TBO, low maintenance costs, and a track record of years of
reliable operation on every continent. With its single-button autostart and
an automatic torque and temperature limiting system, you will find it easy
to operate even if you are new to turboprops.
1
Built around you—every detail of
the Kestrel’s design has been optimized.
2
YOUR PASSENGERS
DESERVE THE BEST.
Do you need a luxurious 6-seat airplane with a private bathroom? Or a flying SUV
with space for all your sports gear and the dogs? Or an 8-seat people mover?
The Kestrel can be all of these.
The Kestrel cabin has been designed with an
uncompromising focus on what matters most to you.
At the top of the wide airstair door, passengers are
welcomed into a spacious, bright cabin with a “big
airplane” feel. In the standard 6-seat configuration,
each passenger can relax in an adjustable, reclining
seat, next to a large panoramic window. No other
aircraft in this class offers such an unrestricted view.
The flat cabin floor, with no sunken aisle, lets everyone
stretch out and relax in comfort.
The fuselage has been designed to optimize elbow and
shoulder room. And with a cabin that is wider than
many business jets, there is plenty of room to move
around. The cabin and cockpit are equipped with
both 120v and USB power supplies, and every seat
has dimmable LED lighting. Dual-zone heating and
air-conditioning keeps the cockpit and cabin at just
the right temperature, and passengers have their own
independent temperature controls.
In flight, the cabin is quiet thanks to the low propeller
RPM. And even when cruising at 31,000 ft the cabin
altitude never exceeds 8,000 ft, so you will arrive at
your destination feeling fresh.
Photo by: Paul F. Aranha
The Kestrel will open a whole world of new destinations to you.
In the air, the controls have been engineered to be
harmonized and precise. The Kestrel wing uses ailerons
and spoilers to make roll control light and responsive.
This airplane has been designed by pilots who have a
passion for flight. We will never forget that flying is
meant to be fun!
deployment speeds the Kestrel can fit in easily with
airline traffic at the busiest airports. It stays just as easy
when landing at short unpaved strips. Large Fowler
flaps give the Kestrel a low approach speed, and the
responsive controls and excellent visibility minimize
workload in the most challenging situations.
When weather threatens to spoil the fun, the Kestrel
lets you focus your attention on managing the flight.
The flat-rated engine lets you climb fast through layers
of turbulence and icing, to cruise at up to 31,000 ft.
The airframe is kept free of ice by EMEDS (ElectroMechanical Expulsion Deicing System), a reliable and
low-maintenance system that clears ice from the wings
and tail. The windshield and engine air intake are heated
and, unlike other turboprop engines, the TPE331-14
does not require you to slow down and deploy an
efficiency-sapping inertial separator before entering
icing conditions.
The carbon fiber Kestrel is sleek and beautiful. It will
stand out on the ramp at the busiest FBO. But when
you want to get away from the crowd, its power,
rugged trailing link gear and large tires let you explore
those short backcountry airstrips that other airplanes
just can’t reach. The Kestrel will open a whole world of
new destinations to you and take you right where you
want to go. Without compromise.
The Kestrel takes full advantage of the last 20 years
of progress in aerodynamic design, and when you level
off from the climb it will accelerate to a cruise speed of
over 320 kt. The fuel-efficient engine means you can fly
for 1,300 nm with NBAA IFR reserves at high speed,
and door-to-door journey times will often be better
than light jets. The useful load with full fuel is 1,200 lb
so you can load the cabin with confidence.
The strong, carbon fiber airframe lets you maintain high
speed during descent, and with its high gear and flap
3
Kestrel engineers examining the carbon fiber main spar.
Large windows, a flat floor, and exotic materials create a new standard for comfort.
4
For those times when nature calls at just
the wrong moment, the Kestrel has a
lavatory, partitioned from the cabin for
Performance & Specifications*
privacy, bringing peace of mind to
passengers on long flights.
Unlike most aircraft in this class, all
baggage is easily accessible in flight.
The baggage area can be customized by
adding or removing sections of the
storage unit. This unit opposite the
Cabin Dimensions
Specifications
Seats
airstair door offers shelves, storage for
Construction
refreshments, and a lavatory. But when
Avionics
6 Standard/7-8 Optional
Length
13 ft
3.96 m
Carbon Fiber
Width
5.0 ft
1.5 m
Garmin G3000
Height
4.5 ft
1.4 m
Width at Floor
4.2 ft
1.3 m
you need more space, sections can be
removed with ease to accommodate the
largest bags. If you need more seats, the
Sections of the storage unit can be removed, or replaced entirely by a seat.
Performance
entire unit and the lavatory can be
Max Cruise Speed
replaced a 7th seat, next to its own large
window. And for the ultimate in people
carrying capability, an 8-seat
configuration is available.
>320 KTAS
>593 km/h
External Dimensions
Max Range (NBAA, 6 Occupants, Max Cruise)
1,300 nm
~2,408 km
Wing Span
Takeoff Distance (Over 50 ft Obstacle)
~2,500 ft
~762 m
Landing Distance (Over 50 ft Obstacle)
~1,850 ft
~564 m
>2,250 ft/min
>11.4 m/sec
Rate of Climb (MTOW @ SL)
45 ft
13.7 m
Length
38.5 ft
11.7 m
Height
12.8 ft
3.9 m
Propeller Diameter
110 in
279 cm
Max Ramp Weight
8,552 lb
3,879 kg
2,152 lb/976 kg
Max Takeoff Weight
8,500 lb
3,856 kg
~58 GPH/390 PPH
Basic Empty Weight
5,200 lb
2,359 kg
Max Useful Load
3,352 lb
1,520 kg
Useful Load with Full Fuel 1,200 lb
544 kg
The first row of passenger seats can face
forward or backward, and seats can be
removed to turn the Kestrel into a 4-seat
Capacities
or 2-seat aircraft with huge load-
Fuel
carrying ability.
Total Usable (319 gallons)
The Kestrel lets you and your passengers
Fuel Consumption at Cruise
Weights
Jet A
fly the way you want, to the places you
want to go—stylishly, comfortably and
Powerplant
safely. Without compromise.
Manufacturer
Room to relax in the spacious, bright cabin.
Model
Kestrel’s cabin fits any mission
Certified Max Power
Honeywell
TPE331-14GR
1,650 SHP
Kestrel Flat-rated Power
~1,000 SHP
HSI
2,500 hours
TBO
5,000 hours
Type
Number of Blades, Material
Operating RPM (in cruise)
Max Operating Altitude
31,000 ft
9,449 m
Max Cabin Altitude
8,000 ft
2,438 m
Oper ation
Day/Night VFR and IFR, RVSM, Flight Into Known Icing
Propeller
Manufacturer
Altitude
Hartzell
Constant speed, full feathering and reversible
Flight Crew
Minimum Required Flight Crew
1
4, Composite
1,490 RPM
*All specifications are based on engineering projections, and are subject to change.
7-Seat Shuttle
Configuration
5
6-Seat Executive
Configuration
4-Seat Cargo/Utility
Configuration
2-Seat Cargo
Configuration/
Medevac Capable
6
110in(279cm)
11ft2in(3.4m)
45 ft (13.7 m)
12.8 ft (3.9 m)
19 ft 5 in (5.9 m)
38.5 ft (11.7 m)
www.kestrel.aero
1401 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880 • 715-718-5000 • [email protected]