Cessna 162
| Cessna 162 Skycatcher | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production Cessna 162 | |
| Role | Personal use and flight training aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
| First flight | 13 October 2006 (concept aircraft) 8 March 2008 (conforming prototype) |
| Status | Production completed (2013) |
| Produced | December 2009 – December 2013 |
| Number built | 275 (December 2013) |
| Unit cost |
US$149,000
|
The Cessna 162 Skycatcher is an American side-by-side two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, tricycle gear light-sport aircraft (LSA) that was designed and produced by Cessna between December 2009 and December 2013. It is the most recently introduced aircraft in the company's general aviation product line and the most recently canceled; its intended market was flight training and personal use.
The Skycatcher received its ASTM LSA approval in July 2009.
At one time 1200 of the aircraft had been ordered. In October 2013 Cessna CEO Scott Ernest stated that the Skycatcher had "no future" and in late January 2014 Cessna told its dealers to stop offering the 162. On 11 February 2014, Cessna removed all marketing for the Skycatcher from their official website. A total of 192 aircraft were sold and the remaining 80 unsold aircraft were used for parts until December 2016 when the balance were scrapped.
Cessna had announced its intentions to study the feasibility of developing and producing an LSA on 6 June 2006. The concept design was unveiled on 24 July 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 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's new Light-Sport Aircraft category.
On 13 October 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 (200 km/h). Cessna formally launched the Skycatcher program 10 July 2007, following with a press event on 22 July 2007 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that unveiled a full-scale mockup and details about the planned production version.
The conforming prototype had its first flight on 8 March 2008 and the first initial production configuration aircraft flew on 5 May 2008.
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