Light Sport Aircraft Delivery Made to Cessna

I've been waiting to see this aircraft come into fruition and I hope it will succeed in the American marketplace. With the new tail feathers added as a result of abhorrent behavior during power-on stall trials, this aircraft is ready for flight training and the Light Sport Aviation pilot. Two aircraft were lost in flight tests--one being dragged across the ground by its BRS chute after having failed to recover from spin tests.

At a starting base price of $111,000, this is an aircraft that looks like it may be in the pocket book range of more private pilots and aviation clubs. .. lakotahope

Skycatcher Joins Light Sport Aircraft Fray
Dec 21, 2009
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Kerry Lynch

Kerry Lynch Cessna Aircraft Friday took a step forward in its plans to become a major player in the light-sport aircraft market with the delivery of the first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The aircraft was handed over to Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton, during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita, Kan. Yingling is one of three facilities in the U.S. that will reassemble Skycatchers produced by Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) in Shenyang, China. SAC builds the Skycatchers, integrates the engines and avionics, and then ships the aircraft to the U.S. for reassembly. Delivery followed Cessna's determination last summer that the aircraft has demonstrated compliance with ASTM standards. As an LSA, the aircraft is not required to receive FAA certification, but must meet the standards established by the international standards-setting organization ASTM International. The determination cleared the path for delivery, as well as signified that the program overcame development setbacks that occurred when the aircraft crashed twice during spin testing (BA, March 30/12). Cessna announced plans to enter the LSA market with the Model 162 Skycatcher two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft during the AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007. The company has since accumulated more than 1,000 orders for the aircraft, which was priced at $111,500. The aircraft was designed to fit within the LSA category, which calls for aircraft to have a maximum gross weigh of 1,320 pounds or less and a top speed of no more than 120 knots. Powered by the Continental O-200D 100-horsepower, air-cooled engine and a fixed-pitch propeller, the aircraft will cruise at speeds of up to 118 knots and have a 470-nautical-mile range. The Skycatcher is equipped with Garmin G300 avionics, which include either a single, split-screen primary flight display with a multifunction display, or two full-screen displays. Cessna said the aircraft will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations. The Wichita airframer also has worked with King Schools to develop a Web-based training system for sport and private pilots. The training will be offered through the Cessna Pilot Center network. The first four centers gained approval to use the programs (see item on Page 285). Photo credit: Cessna