Fri, Sep 18, 2009
Over 1000 Ordered Since Its Introduction At AirVenture
2007
The first production Skycatcher is off the ground. Cessna
announced Thursday that the first Model 162 Skycatcher fabricated
and assembled on production tooling flew Thursday at the factory in
Shenyang in northeast China. The aircraft performed a number of
handling quality tests during the flight.
"The Skycatcher program continues to make significant progress,
today with the first flight of our very first aircraft produced on
production tooling, following closely on the heels of our
announcement in July of ASTM compliance for the aircraft," said
Jack J. Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. "We are excited
about this program and eager for the Model 162 Skycatcher to take
its place in the industry as the light sport aircraft of
choice."
The Model 162 Skycatcher is a two-place, single-engine piston,
high-wing aircraft in the Light Sport Aircraft category, defined in
the United States as an aircraft with a gross weight under 1,320
pounds and with a top speed of no more than 120 knots. LSAs are
built to and comply with ASTM International standards.
The 162 is powered by a Continental O-200D 100-hp air-cooled,
carbureted engine and a fixed-pitch propeller. The aircraft will
cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of
470 nautical miles. The Cessna 162 Skycatcher features a Garmin
G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single,
split-screen primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function
display (MFD), or as two full-screen displays with an optional
second screen. The Skycatcher will be capable of Visual Flight
Rules/Day/Night operations.
Shenyang Aircraft Company was selected following a global search
for a production partner that could handle high-quality production.
SAC has a long history with experience in military and civil
aircraft production and assembly. SAC is fabricating the fuselage
and integrating U.S.-made engine, systems and avionics.
Following shipment to the U.S., the 162s will be reassembled for
delivery at one of three regional locations. Cessna, in association
with King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training
system for sport and private pilot certificates that will be
available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight
schools.
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