9 April 2008
In 2006 there was great excitement over the unveiling of <a href=’http://www.flyer.co.uk/news/newsfeed.php?artnum=277′ target=’_blank’>two new Cessna aircraft</a>: an LSA (Light Sport Aircraft), which we now know is going to become the C162 SkyCatcher, and an airframe which Cessna referred to as the ‘NGP’, or Next Generation Piston.
This NGP would examine, Cessna said, various new ideas such as alternative engines and materials.
Now, however, events have caught up with NGP. When, late last year, Cessna bought Columbia Aircraft and incorporated the Cessna (formerly Columbia) 350 and 400 into its product line, it meant that the manufacturer needed to rethink where the NGP would fit in.
But it’s not abandoning the project: “Our team is working on finalizing the configuration,” said Van Abel, Cessna’s project engineer for the NGP. “We continue to evaluate features and materials that will produce a new, unique aircraft family with a potential for multiple powerplants. With the 350 and 400 models now in our family, we have a unique opportunity to explore interesting and exciting concepts for the next family of Cessna propeller aircraft.”
Other Cessna annoucements:
– Cessna receives FAA certification to deliver Caravan models with Garmin G1000 as stanard equipment
– Cessna singles achieve strong orders overseas
– Mid-2008 should see first delivery of turbo diesel-powered Skyhawk
– The Cessna Mustang VLJ (Very Light Aircraft) has now received 500 orders
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Sun ‘n Fun, where this news broke, is currently under way at Lakeland in Florida, USA. Sun ‘n Fun is a huge fly-in, and is often the place where companies announce their agendas for the year
