N531TA
Cessna E530 Scorpion (Textron AirLand Scorpion demonstrator) (E530 (prototype/demonstrator))
Textron AirLand / Cessna (Textron Aviation)
N/A
Duration of Flight
N/A
Range
430 MPH
Max Speed
Gallery
Basic Information
Airframe
Data valid as of 2016-01-20| Date | From | To | Flight Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-07-17 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2016-03-31 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2015-06-18 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
| 2014-07-13 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ✓ Landed |
AI Summary
Cessna E530 Scorpion (Textron AirLand Scorpion demonstrator) (E530 (prototype/demonstrator))
Overview
Registered in the United States to Textron Aviation Inc as an Experimental (Research & Development / Crew Training / Market Survey) demonstrator; last FAA registry action recorded 2016-01-20.
Specifications
- Engines: 2× Honeywell TFE731-40 (TFE731 family) (4250 lbf each)
- Seats: 2
Operations & Cabin
Tandem 2-seat cockpit (pilot forward, systems/operator aft) Demonstrator fitted for ISR sensors and reconfigurable internal payload bay; basic two-place instrumentation and mission systems for evaluation flights. Avionics: Cobham-developed flat-panel displays / modern glass cockpit (demonstrator avionics suite)
Model & Market Context
This airframe, registered as N531TA, is the demonstrator Cessna E530 Scorpion built in 2013 with manufacturer serial 721001. Constructed by Textron AirLand / Cessna (Textron Aviation), the demonstrator has been retained by Textron Aviation Inc. as a corporate demonstrator and technology testbed. The owner on record is TEXTRON AVIATION INC of Wichita, KS, US, and the airframe carries a US civil registration. As a purpose-built demonstrator the airframe has been maintained to support flight test, avionics validation and public demonstration activity rather than conventional airline or charter operations.
The airframe features a tandem two-seat cockpit with the pilot seated forward and a systems/operator position aft, reflecting its demonstrator mission and the need for in-flight systems monitoring and demonstration. The installed demonstrator avionics suite uses Cobham-developed flat-panel displays and a modern glass cockpit arrangement, supporting real-time evaluation of human-machine interfaces and sensor/operator workflows. Operated from the owner’s base in Wichita, Kansas, the aircraft’s typical missions have centered on flight-test profiles, avionics integration flights and public demonstration sorties rather than revenue passenger or cargo service. Maintenance considerations for this specific demonstrator emphasize test instrumentation, modular avionics swaps and frequent software/firmware updates to the demonstrator glass suite rather than standard line maintenance cycles.
The airframe is the Textron AirLand Scorpion demonstrator variant carried under the Cessna E530 designation, serving as a technology and systems demonstrator within the parent company’s portfolio. Its configuration—tandem two-seat test cockpit and dual Honeywell TFE731-40 powerplants—positions it as an experimental platform for avionics and mission systems validation rather than a production commercial type. As a demonstrator retained by the manufacturer, resale and conventional charter demand are secondary to its role supporting product development, certification support and public demonstration activities.