Will Upgrade Existing Fleet Of Cessna 152s, 172s

Symphony Aircraft announced Thursday that Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has selected the SA160 to replace the school's existing fleet of approximately 30 Cessna 152s and 10 172s. The Symphonys will be heading to the flight line in Tulsa, OK beginning later this year.

"It's amazing that this two-place aircraft allows us to replace both models," Spartan President and CEO Brent Mills said. "The Symphony 160... just better fit our needs."

"We flew over 10 different aircraft and decided to purchase the SA 160s because of its superior workmanship, performance and appearance," said Spartan's Chief Flight Instructor Bill Wyman. "...Plus, it's a fun aircraft to fly."

As was reported in Aero-News in February, the SA 160 has been making its present felt in the training market of late, with Santa Barbara Flight Academy and the Tidewater School Of Aeronautics also having recently selected the two-place, FAR 23 certified for their flight training programs.

"As a top world-recognized flight training college, Spartan flew over 65,000 hours and 50,000 take-off and landings in 2005," said Tim Baldwin, Symphony Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. "Their students will appreciate [the SA 160's] powerful engine, sleek design, unsurpassed comfort and advanced technology."

Spartan ordered both conventional and glass cockpit models of the SA 160. The glass instrument aircraft feature Avidyne's Entegra system.

FMI: www.symphonyaircraft.com, www.spartan.edu