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| Wednesday, July 16, 2008 |
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Cessna Completes Third Airframe for SkyCatcher Development Program
By FlyingNews @ 4:14 PM :: 71 Views ::
0 Comments :: General Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers
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Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the Farnborough International Airshow its engineering team has completed a third airframe in its development of the Model 162 SkyCatcher.
The third airframe serves as an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) test article and has started static testing. The primarily aluminum aircraft will meet ASTM standard F2245 for the light sport category.
Two aircraft are being used for flight testing. The SkyCatcher prototype conducted its first flight March 8, followed by the May 1 flight of the first production model. The aircraft have accumulated nearly 80 hours for ASTM flight testing, which will be completed later this year. The second airframe is being equipped with a production interior and will debut at EAA AirVenture July 28-Aug. 3.
All engineering work and testing of the 162 will be completed in Wichita, Kan., at Cessna Aircraft Field Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base. Flight testing to date has focused on gathering data and making minor refinements to ensure the aircraft complies with ASTM requirements and fulfills its intended role in the training and sport flying market.
An extensive Ground Vibration Test, though not an ASTM requirement, was conducted on the prototype to meet Cessna’s exacting standards for airframe integrity. Additional testing beyond the ASTM requirements will include a full airframe fatigue test on a production aircraft starting in mid-2009.
Beyond flight testing, design of the production assembly jigs and tooling by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation is progressing rapidly. All assembly tool designs are complete with 30 percent built and located in the assembly building. All detail tool designs to support fabrication are complete and are in process. Cessna has a cross-functional team located in Shenyang, China, working in the areas of Operations, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.
Cessna announced the go-ahead for the SkyCatcher in July 2007. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2009, and at full-rate production, Cessna plans to produce up to 700 SkyCatchers a year.
Priced at $111,500 in 2007 dollars, the 162 is expected to cruise at speeds up to 219 kilometers per hour (118 knots) with a maximum range of 870 kilometers (470 nautical miles). The aircraft will feature a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display and multi-function display, or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The aircraft will be capable of day and night, visual flight rules operations.
Preliminary design parameters for the SkyCatcher include a maximum gross weight of 599 kilograms (1,320 pounds), a service ceiling of 4,724 meters (15,500 feet), a useful load of 222 kilograms (490 pounds) and a usable fuel capacity of 91 liters (24 gallons). It has a cabin width at shoulder height of more than 1.12 meters (44 inches), equaling that of the much-larger, six-place Cessna 206 Stationair. It features two top-hinged cabin entry doors and forward pivoting seats giving access to a baggage compartment.
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