10 March 2008
Cessna has flown the prototype of its new C162 SkyCatcher, from Cessna Aircraft Field Airport in Wichita. The flight, which took place for on Saturday morning, lasted an hour. The pilot was Cessna Engineering Test Pilot Dale Bleakney.
“The first flight of the SkyCatcher is a significant step ahead toward our goal of bringing an affordable training aircraft to market,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO. “There is a lot of excitement at Cessna as we progress through our many developmental programs and I’m very proud of our teams for continuing to stay on track.”
The plan is that this airframe will be the first of three in the development phase of pre-production: the prototype, the first production model (currently being built, and due to fly later this spring) and an American Society for Testing and Materials test article (currently being evaluated). All engineering work and testing will be done in Wichita; the aircraft will then be manufactured in China and ‘reassembled’ back in the US.
Cessna reports that it is continuing to evaluate the 100 hp Continental O-200 engine which is fitted to the proof of concept aircraft.
Priced at $111,500, the 162 is expected to cruise at speeds up to 118 knots with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles.
