Wasatch Aero outlines plans for four-seat twin turboprop

Wasatch Aero, an aircraft developer based in Utah, has described plans for a four-seat twin-turboprop intended for multiengine flight training and personal use. The design sits within a broader development roadmap that starts with the company's two-seat SD3 trainer and its turbine-powered SD3T variant before moving to larger aircraft.

The proposed twin would be powered by two Turbo Tech turbine engines rated at 148 horsepower each, the same powerplant fitted to the single-engine SD3T. Wasatch lists preliminary figures of a 200-knot cruise, fuel burn between 12 and 14 gallons per hour, and a ceiling of 23,000 feet. The aircraft remains in the design phase, and the company has not released pricing or a delivery schedule for it.

In its published roadmap, Wasatch said the shared engine and parts would give flight schools fleet commonality, with maintenance practices carried over between types and a more efficient progression from single-engine to multiengine instruction.

The project leans on the FAA's MOSAIC rulemaking, which widens certification options for light-sport aircraft. Under the revised standards, manufacturers can build aircraft with as many as four seats, more than one engine, and turbine propulsion.

The company is aiming for first prototype flights of the SD3 and SD3T in late 2026, with deliveries expected in 2027. No comparable timeline has been set for the twin. The FAA has noted that while a multiengine or powered-lift aircraft can be certificated in the light-sport category, sport pilots do not hold multiengine or powered-lift privileges, so operating the proposed twin would require a higher-level certificate and a multiengine rating.