Company To Reveal More Details At AirVenture

It's an announcement too big to save for Oshkosh. Just shy of one year since Cessna premiered its light sport aircraft concept at AirVenture 2006, the planemaker tells ANN it will go ahead with plans to produce a Cessna LSA.

"After conducting extensive market research, it is clear to us there is a great need for this aircraft as we strive to drive down the cost of flying and learning to fly," said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton. "We believe this aircraft will make a major contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly because it will be more affordable."

The planemaker is saving most of the details of its LSA for the annual extravaganza at Wittman Field, however. Cessna will unveil a full scale mock-up and program details at the show, which kicks off to the public July 23. Cessna will hold a pre-show briefing on Sunday, July 22 to announce more details.

There are many questions still to be answered. For example, what powerplant will be used? When Cessna unveiled its "Cessna Sport" concept last year, it was powered by a 100-hp Rotax 912S powerplant. A Continental O-200 was hanging off the plane's nose at April's Lakeland Fly-In.

Also up in the air are questions regarding the aircraft's avionics... its designation (will it remain the "Sport?")... and where it will be produced. And while it's likely Cessna will stick with the same basic configuration as the original LSA concept -- a conventional high-wing monoplane with a conventional swept tail, straight wings with flaps and ailerons each of about half-span, and tricycle landing gear -- it's possible several detail changes are in the offing.

Of course, there is also the question of price. Cessna has maintained all along it would not go ahead with production of an LSA unless the company could bring it to market for less than $100K; given consumer complaints of the high price of several LSA, it will be very interesting to see just how much lower the base price for a Cessna LSA will be.

"We have developed a business case that makes sense; we have incorporated several innovative features into the design; and we believe we can deliver the finest aircraft in the category, combined with our extensive customer service, flight training and distribution  networks, at an attractive price," Pelton said.

FMI: www.cessna.com