CJ4 Took Flight Monday; Production SkyCatcher Flew May 1

A pair of new Cessna aircraft -- representing both the entry-level, and near-high-end, ranges of the current Cessna model lineup -- saw light under their landing gear recently. The Wichita, KS-based planemaker's first production Model 162 SkyCatcher LSA took off on its maiden flight May 1 from Cessna Field, adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base; and the first CJ4 business jet lifted off from McConnell on Monday.

"It was an outstanding first flight," said Cessna Senior Engineering Test Pilot Dan Morris, who flew the aircraft with Engineering Flight Test Manager Dave Bonifield as co-pilot. "We tested quite a number of the systems on the aircraft, including the autopilot, and all performed very well. The FADECs operated just as we expected, and along with the four displays of the Pro Line 21, this is a very pilot-friendly aircraft. Operators will transition easily into the CJ4."

The 2-hour, 22-minute flight departed McConnell just after 1130 CDT, and consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating stability and control along with initial systems evaluations. While the pilots took the prototype on a sustained climb to 16,000 feet, engineers monitored the aircraft’s instrumentation and safety equipment via telemetry systems at Cessna’s engineering facility at Mid-Continent Airport, where the CJ4 landed.

Two additional CJ4 aircraft are taking shape at Cessna’s Pawnee Advanced Engineering facility in Wichita. All three test aircraft will log air time in the certification effort. The first production aircraft, Serial 0001, will primarily be used for avionics and systems certification, while the second production aircraft, Serial 0002, will fly function and reliability along with company service tests. First flight for both production CJ4s will take place later this year.

"Our program team and supplier partners are proud of this aircraft, and our receipt of more than 150 orders for the CJ4 further motivates us to meet our aggressive goals," said CJ4 Program Manager Norm Baker. "We are on track for type certification in the second half of 2009, followed by customer deliveries beginning in the first half of 2010."

The CJ4 flight came three days after the maiden flight of the first production-spec SkyCatcher light sport aircraft. The 30-minute SkyCatcher flight occurred Friday morning, and consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the controllability and stability of the aircraft. The SkyCatcher, flown by Cessna Engineering Test Pilot Dale Bleakney, returned to Cessna Field (KCEA) as scheduled where it will continue development testing.

Flight of the first production SkyCatcher occurred eight weeks after the prototype 162 (shown above) completed its first flight, as ANN reported. In addition to having two aircraft in the test program, Cessna is set to begin static and fatigue testing on a separate airframe in mid-May.

FMI: www.cessna.com