WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 18, 2009 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today delivered its first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita, Kan. Yingling is one of three U.S. re-assembly facilities for the Skycatcher.
As previously announced, Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton, received the first Skycatcher.
The Model 162 Skycatcher is a two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft in the Light Sport Aircraft category, defined in the United States as an aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds and with a top speed of no more than 120 knots.
The 162 is powered by a Continental O-200D 100-hp air-cooled engine and a fixed-pitch propeller. The aircraft will cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. The Cessna 162 Skycatcher features a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD), or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The Skycatcher will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations.
Cessna, in association with King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training system for sport and private pilot certificates that will be available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools.
Cessna launched its Skycatcher program at AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007 and has since amassed more than 1,000 orders.
