C 162 SKYCATCHER Shenyang First Flight 2009-09-17

Cessna is the worlds largest General Aviation aircraft manufacturer. As such their fully resourced move into the sport aviation space by the development of the Model 162 is of great moment in the GA world. It was always a mystery why Cessna chose not to compete with the LSA manufacturers, particularly from Europe. Now all is clear. They could not get the price into the $100K ballpark using domestic manufacturing. The LSA world will be changed forever. The sportaviation manufacturers now have competition from the master with a mainly metal entry of the highest standard.
Last month the first production prototype was flown for the first time by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

This project which was announced at Oskosh in 2006 is on schedule and first customer deliveries will take place in 2009. This is a serious aircraft with all the trimmings; glass cockpit, Garmin G300 split screen primary flight and multi-function displays, airframe ballistic parachute etc.

The 162 was developed from scratch. It is not a derivative product. It carries no baggage, Ah Hum!.

Cessna made it look easy, on time, thru the Global Financial Collapse, and the loss of two flying prototypes in spin testing accidents (no injuries). Oh, and the price USD 115,000 or so.

Expect to see lots of these soon at an airfield near you.
Here is a Cessna release and an article from China Daily.
First production Skycatcher flies at Shenyang factory

The first production Skycatcher took to the skies for its inaugural flight in Shenyang, China, this past week.
This Skycatcher is the first to be fabricated and assembled on production tooling at Shenyang Aircraft
Company (SAC). During the flight, the aircraft performed a number of handling quality tests. The Skycatcher program continues to make significant progress with the first flight of our very first aircraft produced on production tooling following closely on the heels of our announcement in July of ASTM compliance for the aircraft,” said Jack Pelton, chairman, president and CEO. “We are excited about this program and eager for the
Model 162 Skycatcher to take its place in the industry as the light sport aircraft of choice.”
SAC is fabricating the fuselage and integrating U.S.-made engine, systems and avionics. Following shipment to the U.S., the 162s will be reassembled for delivery at one of three regional locations.

Cessna, in association with King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training system for sport and rivate pilot certificates that will be available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools.

From China Daily
Sino-US co-developed sport plane delivered

China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation(SAC) has delivered the first L162, a light sport plane, to its co-developer, the US Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna), said a spokesman with SAC Friday. The L162 Skycatcher is a two-seat aircraft, with a gross weight of 0.6-ton and a length of 6.95 meters, said Pang Zhen, manager of the SAC civil aircraft division.
Cessna, as the proprietor of L162, is responsible for the designing, airworthiness approval, marketing and after-sale services.
SAC, as the only subcontractor, takes care of materials purchasing, parts manufacturing, assembling and test-flying, Pang said.