Prototype 162 Expected To Take To Skies Shortly

Up to this point, all the news about the Cessna Model 162 SkyCatcher has focused on the question of whether it would be built at all, then the engine mystery, and finally, the big debut at EAA AirVenture in 2007. By the time Cessna left Oshkosh, it already claimed over 400 sales.

More recently, the controversial decision to build the plane in China has snuffed out other developments.

Cessna appears to be hoping to shift the focus now to actual development milestones. On Thursday, opening day of the US Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, FL the company announced it's preparing for the first flight of its Model 162 prototype in the coming months.

Cessna's engineering team in Wichita, KS is building three airframes -- a prototype, a first production, and a test article for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) compliance work.

The aluminum aircraft will meet ASTM standard for F2245 light sport aircraft, but CEO Jack Pelton told ANN at Oshkosh the plane will be engineered and built as if it was intended for Part 23 certification.

Cessna says the proof-of-concept iteration which was displayed last year has now completed nearly one year of extensive flight evaluations and design modifications. The company says the proof-of-concept Cessna Sport first flew with its 100-horsepower Continental O-200D engine on August 17, 2007, just weeks after the SkyCatcher's official launch.

In recent testing, Cessna engineers have evaluated engine cooling and overall flight characteristics. The company says its goal is a plane that is fun but forgiving, suiting the training and sport flying market for which the SkyCatcher is intended.

While spotlighting program progress, the company also announced more details of its plan for getting China-built SkyCatchers to dealers in the US.

Following production in China, SkyCatchers will be test flown, disassembled and shipped to three Cessna authorized service stations in the United States: Eagle Aviation in West Columbia, SC; Yingling Aviation in Wichita, KS; and Southwest Platinum Aviation in North Las Vegas, NV. Those three facilities will reassemble the aircraft and conduct acceptance test flights prior to delivery to Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representatives, who will in turn distribute the aircraft to retail customers.

Cessna has partnered with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) for production of the SkyCatcher light sport aircraft in Shenyang, China. Cessna will ship the SkyCatcher's engine and avionics, along with raw materials, from the United States to Shenyang for assembly by SAC. Cessna will provide on-site personnel to oversee assembly, quality assurance and technical support.

The company has worked to assure existing and prospective customers that despite the partnership with SAC, the 162 will be a real Cessna, with the quality and company support buyers expect of the brand.

According to Cessna's projections, the 162 will cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. The aircraft will feature a G300 avionics system designed by Garmin specifically for the 162. The aircraft will be capable of day and night, VFR operations.

FMI: www.cessna.com