Testing of Cessna’s LSA 162 SkyCatcher progresses
CESSNA’s engineering team has completed the third 162 SkyCatcher airframe, to be used for static testing. Two other airframes are being used for flight testing. One of those will be equipped with a production interior, which will makes its debut at Oshkosh later this month.Before Cessna can commence delivering the SkyCatcher in the middle of next year however, it has to meet Light Sport Aircraft standards. These standards are less stringent than normal type certification. But Cessna officials say they will go beyond the LSA requirements, conducting extensive ground and full-airframe fatigue tests.According to Cessna’s preliminary numbers, the two-seat aeroplane will have a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, a useful load of 490 pounds, a fuel capacity of 24 gallons, and a cruise speed of 118 knots.At full-rate production, Cessna plans to produce 700 airplanes at the Shenyang Aircraft Corp. in China. Priced at $111,500 in 2007 dollars, the SkyCatcher will feature a Garmin G300 glass avionics system.www.cessna.com
