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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. Read more…

In a brave but sensible decision a multi-million dollar fleet of new training aircraft has been launched by Massey University’s School of Aviation in Palmerston North.

The high-tech Canadian-built air trainers replace the school’s old fleet of aircraft in which two student pilots died following a mid-air collision.

The 14 new aircraft, costing more than $8 million, represent a huge commitment for the university, but one it hopes will see its unique Bachelor of Aviation programme really take off.

“These planes will put us back at the cutting edge of the technology. It’s what pilots and companies want,” says Steve Maharey, Vice Chancellor of Massey University. Read more…