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|cruise speed main= 112 knots
|cruise speed main= 112 knots
|cruise speed alt= 207 km/h
|cruise speed alt= 207 km/h
|stall speed main= 470
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt= 870
|stall speed alt=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt=
|never exceed speed alt=
|range main= 380 nm
|range main= 470 nm
|range alt= 705 km
|range alt= 870 km
|range more=at 6,000 ft (1830 m)
|range more=at 6,000 ft (1830 m)
|ceiling main= 15,500 ft
|ceiling main= 15,500 ft

Revision as of 23:07, 27 August 2008

Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher (or SkyCatcher) is a two-seat light-sport aircraft. The latest aircraft in the Cessna general aviation product line, its intended market is flight training and personal use.

Development

Cessna had announced its intentions to study the feasibility of developing and producing an LSA aircraft on June 6 2006.[1] The concept design was unveiled on July 24 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as the Cessna LSA (also referred to as the Cessna Sport), via a marketing study of the feasibility of producing an aircraft compliant with the FAA's new Light-sport Aircraft category.

On October 13 2006, nine months after launching the program, the concept prototype aircraft, registered N158CS, first flew, departing McConnell Air Force Base for Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport and reaching a speed of 110 knots. Cessna formally launched the Skycatcher program July 10 2007, following with a press event on July 22 2007 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh [2] that unveiled a full-scale mockup and details about the planned production version. Cessna President Jack Pelton made the announcement:

After conducting extensive market research, it is clear to us there is a great need for this aircraft as we strive to drive down the cost of flying and learning to fly. We believe this aircraft will make a major contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly because it will be more affordable. We have developed a business case that makes sense; we have incorporated several innovative features into the design; and we believe we can deliver the finest aircraft in the category, combined with our extensive customer service, flight training and distribution networks, at an attractive price.

The conforming prototype had its first flight on March 8 2008[3] and the first production aircraft flew on May 5, 2008.[4]

Pricing and production targets

Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton had originally indicated that Cessna was aiming for a price of under US$100,000 for the aircraft, which Pelton indicated would be a challenge to achieve. At that price point Pelton predicted that Cessna would be able to sell 600 of the aircraft per year.[5]

The July 22 2007 announcement indicated that these price goals were not met. The first 1000 aircraft ordered were sold for USD$109,500. The price has since been increased to $111,500.[6]

Orders

On August 9 2007 Cessna Aircraft announced that they had orders for 720 Skycatchers totalling USD$75M.[7] By November 24, 2007 Cessna had 850 firm orders.[8]

Chinese production controversy

On 27 November 2007 Cessna announced that the Cessna 162 would be made in the People's Republic of China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which is a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), a Chinese government-owned consortium of aircraft manufacturers.[9] By manufacturing the aircraft in China, Cessna reports that it saved USD$71,000 in production costs per aircraft produced, or about 40% of the cost. A second reason cited for moving production to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation was that Cessna has no plant capacity available in the USA.[10]

The decision to produce the aircraft in China has been controversial and Cessna has received a high degree of negative feedback from Cessna 162 customers and potential customers.[11]

Design

Construction

The Cessna 162's structure is mostly aluminum with a fiberglass cowling. Cessna LSA Project head Neal Wilford indicated in August 2006 that Cessna was investigating the use of "match hole drilling" to reduce costs and simplify construction of the design. This technique is widely used in the kit-plane industry and in construction of larger aircraft, but would be Cessna's first use in its single-engine line.[12]

At a January 2007 LSA event, Cessna hinted that the aircraft's wing might be lowered and the cabin/wing interface smoothed from the prototype gull wing fairing configuration. This re-design work was eventually carried out and the second aircraft differs from the initial prototype in these features. As of January 2007 the prototype had over 50 hours of flight test time, including several long cross country flights.

The high-wing monoplane has fixed tricycle landing gear, with a castering nosewheel. The wingspan is 30 feet (9.14 m) and internal cabin width is 44 inches (1.12 m) at shoulder height. The doors are different from previous two-seat Cessna models in that they open by swinging upward. The controls are unusual for a Cessna (except for the Cessna 188 series) in that they are floor-mounted control sticks instead of instrument panel mounted yokes.

Engine

The Cessna 162 is powered by an air-cooled, carbureted Continental O-200D engine, producing 100 hp at 2,800 rpm. It directly drives a two-blade, fixed pitch composite propeller.[13]

Avionics

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher will be delivered with a Garmin G300 EFIS installed, as well as a Garmin SL40 communications radio, a GTX327 transponder, and a 121.5 MHz ELT. Flight data will be presented on the G300 in a single, split-screen combination primary flight display and multi-function display. Information can also be shown on two full-screen displays with installation of a second screen, which will be a purchase option.

Parachute system

On October 9, 2007 Cessna announced that a Ballistic Recovery Systems airframe ballistic parachute system will be a factory-installed option on the Cessna 162.[14]

Flight Rules

The Cessna 162 will be equipped for Visual Flight Rules, day and night flying.

Performance

The Skycatcher is capable of cruise at speeds as high as 118 knots (136 mph/219 km/h), with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles at a gross weight of 1,320 lb (599 kg). Compared to other LSAs the Cessna 162 has a low full fuel payload. With a full fuel load of 24 US gallons (133 lbs) the aircraft has 357 lbs remaining for occupants and baggage.[15]

Specifications

Data from Flying Magazine[16] and Cessna.com[13]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: one passenger

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ AvWeb Staff (2006-10-16). "Cessna LSA Flies". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  2. ^ Cessna Aircraft (2007). "Cessna Announces Light Sport Aircraft Details". Retrieved 2008-02-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Cessna Aircraft (2008). "Cessna SkyCatcher Prototype Completes First Flight". Retrieved 2008-03-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Cessna Aircraft (2008). "First Production Cessna SkyCatcher Completes First Flight". Retrieved 2008-05-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Avweb (2006). "Cessna LSA: Under $100K, Or Not At All?". Retrieved 2007-11-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Cessna Aircraft (2007-07-22). "Cessna Announces Light Sport Aircraft Details". Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  7. ^ Cessna Aircraft (2007-08-09). "Cessna SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft Orders Top $75 Million". Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  8. ^ Niles, Russ F. (2007). "Cessna To Build Skycatcher Overseas". Retrieved 2007-11-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Textron (2007). "Cessna Chooses China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation as Manufacturing Partner for Model 162 SkyCatcher". Retrieved 2007-11-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Russ Niles (2007-11-27). "Skycatcher To Be Made in China". Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  11. ^ Aniello, Tom (2007). "Making the case for building the SkyCatcher in China (entire website since deleted)". Retrieved 2008-01-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ AvWeb Staff (2006). "Cessna Looks To Homebuilts For LSA Ideas". Retrieved 2008-02-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ a b "The Cessna 162 SkyCatcher". Cessna.com. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  14. ^ Mary Grady (2007-10-09). "Cessna To Offer BRS Parachutes In Skycatcher, All Piston Singles". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  15. ^ http://se.cessna.com/skycatcher/
  16. ^ McClellan, J Mac: Flying Magazine October 2007, page 50.
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