Cessna rolls out model of Light Sport Aircraft

Manufacturer of general aviation aircraft Cessna Aircraft Company, a business unit of Textron Inc (NYSE: TXT), on Friday (20 July) rolled out a full-scale mock-up of the company's Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), the Model 162 SkyCatcher. The Cessna LSA features the Teledyne Continental O-200D engine, which was chosen because of its advantages in operations, warranty and maintenance, and customer's preference. The engine is air-cooled and has a greater mean-time-between-overhaul period than other engines considered, and it has demonstrated a lower operating cost, the company said.

Other features incorporated in the Cessna LSA include electric elevator trim and mechanical flaps, as well as a fixed-seat/adjustable rudder pedal design. Also the front seats pivot forward allowing easy access to rear baggage space through cabin doors on both sides of the fuselage. In addition the dual control sticks designed by Cessna provide straight stick functionality and feel, while allowing easy access to pilot and co-pilot seats. The SkyCatcher is expected to cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, a useful load of 490 pounds, and a usable fuel load of 24 gallons. The prototype Model 162, priced at USD109,500 on introduction, is set its first flight in the first half of 2008 and deliveries are expected to begin in 2009. Orders for the LSA are being taken at AirVenture with a USD10,000 deposit and the introductory price will hold for the first 1,000 orders, and will then increase to USD111,500. Cessna expects to produce up to 700 LSAs a year at full-rate production.

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