Oshkosh, WI - July 28, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, unveiled to the public the first production Model 162 SkyCatcher complete with a production interior today at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2008.
The unveiling comes exactly one year from the date and at the same venue where Cessna officially launched the light sport aircraft program. Since the launch, Cessna has taken orders for more than 1,000 SkyCatchers and completed three airframes for the program’s development.
The 162 prototype and the first production aircraft have accumulated more than 90 hours for ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) flight testing, which will be completed later this year. A third airframe serves as an ASTM test article and has started static testing. The primarily aluminum aircraft will meet ASTM standard F2245 for the light sport category.
All engineering work and testing of the 162 will be completed in Wichita, Kan., at Cessna Aircraft Field Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base. Flight testing is now focused on gathering the test data to show compliance with the ASTM standard.
Beyond flight testing, design of the production assembly jigs and tooling by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation is progressing rapidly. All assembly tool designs are complete with 30 percent built and located in the assembly building. All detail tool designs to support fabrication are complete and are in process. Cessna has a cross-functional team located in Shenyang, China, working in the areas of Operations, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2009, and at full-rate production, Cessna plans to produce up to 700 SkyCatchers a year.
Priced at $111,500 in 2007 dollars, the 162 is expected to cruise at speeds up to 118 knots (219 kilometers per hour) with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles (870 kilometers). The aircraft will feature a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display and multi-function display, or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The aircraft will be capable of day and night, visual flight rules operations.
Preliminary design parameters for the SkyCatcher include a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds (599 kilograms), a service ceiling of 15,500 feet (4,724 meters), a useful load of 490 pounds (222 kilograms) and a usable fuel capacity of 24 gallons (91 liters). It has a cabin width at shoulder height of more than 44 inches (1.12 meters), equaling that of the much-larger, six-place Cessna 206 Stationair. It features two top-hinged cabin entry doors and forward pivoting seats giving access to a baggage compartment.
Download high-resolution photos using the links below.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $16 billion through June 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 190,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 5,200 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: [a] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; [b] the interruption of production at our facilities or at our suppliers’ facilities; [c] the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; [d] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which our products are sold or supplied; [e] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [f] the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; [g] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products; and [h] bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in our supply chain.
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High-res photos of production SkyCatcher exterior and interior