Wichita, KS – May 17, 2010 – On May 5, Sporty's Pilot Shop took delivery of its first Cessna 162 Skycatcher light sport aircraft. Ten days later, the Skycatcher was given away as part of Sporty's annual airplane sweepstakes.
The winner of the new Skycatcher was Alan Horowitch from Yuma, Ariz. The drawing came Saturday at Sporty's annual fly-in at its headquarters outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Sporty's, billed as the world's largest pilot shop, is an authorized Cessna aircraft dealer.
"Sporty's annual airplane give-away does a lot to promote general aviation and the fun of flying – exactly why we designed the Skycatcher," said Roger Whyte, Cessna senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. Cessna is a Textron (NYSE: TXT) company.
"The Skycatcher is going to be a catalyst for increased pilot starts. It will significantly change the economics of ownership and operation for flight schools, aircraft renters and aircraft owners, and will benefit the entire general aviation community. We wish Alan many happy hours with our newest piston aircraft."
The Model 162 Skycatcher is a two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category, defined in the United States as an aircraft with a gross weight under 1,320 pounds and with a top speed of no more than 120 knots. LSAs are built to ASTM International standards.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. In 2009, Cessna delivered 754 aircraft, including 289 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $3.3 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it 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 multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.