Sport Pilot Talk

A great idea or last ditch effort to save the SkyCatcher?


http://www.kansas.com/2012/06/21/2382480/cessna-pilots-to-promote-skycatcher.html


Cessna, pilots to promote Skycatcher with Discover Flying Challenge

Discover Flying Challenge kicks off in Independence

By Molly McMillin
The Wichita Eagle

Cessna Aircraft is promoting flying and its light sport aircraft, the Skycatcher, in a program called Discover Flying Challenge. The company has hired eight graduates from university aviation programs to fly the Skycatcher around the country, and a ninth graduate to act as dispatcher. The pilots, who are also certified flight instructors, were in Wichita this week for training. “It’s a program we developed to get people interested in the 162,” said Cessna spokesman Andy Woodward. The pilots will meet at Cessna’s open house at its Independence plant Saturday before flying to the regions of the country to which they have been assigned. In July, they will show off the planes at fly-ins, air shows, fixed base operators and Cessna Pilot Centers. Along the way, they will update Facebook and Twitter feeds and blog about their activities, Woodward said. The pilots will reunite at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, Wis., in late July. Two of the pilots are graduates of Kansas State University’s aviation program in Salina. “We wanted to do something different, something that would get the attention of the next generation of pilots while at the same time getting the Skycatcher in front of the public,” Tracy Leopold, business leader for the 162 Skycatcher, said in a statement. Cessna’s open house in Independence on Saturday celebrates the delivery of its 10,000th airplane from the factory, which opened in July 1996. The plane, a Cessna 206, will be delivered that day to Moser Aviation, an Englewood, Colo.-based charter, consulting and aircraft management business. The open house is expected to include local officials who helped bring the Cessna plant to Independence 16 years ago, after a keen competition from multiple communities for the facility. Cessna’s Independence plant assembles the 172, 182 and 206 single-engine aircraft and the Citation Mustang business jet. It recently began assembling the 162 Skycatcher at the site. It employs 460 people.

Cessna’s website for the summer challenge program is www.facebook.com/CessnaAircraftCompany.

Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or mmcmillin@wichitaeagle.com.

Who knows. I wouldn't trade my 5 year old CTSW for a new one. I suspect there's people somewhere that will want them.

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PP-ASEL, Flight Design CTSW owner.

I'll take just about anything thats close to me... here's to hoping they'll put one near krdu....

There's one for rent in Southern Pines.

These Cessna guys will be in Burlington, NC KBUY on 18July.

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter

Have you flown that one, frank? I called and am working to set up a intro lesson in it, just to have another option thats not as far as salisbury.

I finally scored a sit in one and I'm not going to fly one without a helmet. Managed to hit my head pretty bad while stting in a parked airplane, expect worse in the air. There's no padding anywhere on the inside, so rivets do a job on my skull.

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http://zaitcev.mee.nu/

IIRC you're not the smallest guy -- I've flown the following with some 'fit' comments in line:

SportCruiser - no complaint. seat needs more padding for long flights!
Remos - have to duck for clearing turns.
CTsw - no real complaints, wish the seat wasn't so straight up
Allegro - not the new one, shoulder to shoulder with the cfi, meh
CarbonCub - was too busy giggling to notice a problem.
Tecnam Sierra - had to duck to close the canopy... felt cramped
Tecnam P2008 - I need one of these. Badly.
Tecnam Eaglet - Have to duck a bit for side/side... but not as bad as remos.

How do you stack up on these?

I haven't yet. I'm checked out on the Allegro and I'm happy with it.

Like you said, it's just good to have the option.

Concerned about weight.

853 Empty; big Continental Engine
250 Me
144 Full Fuel
Leaves 77 lb for a checkout CFI

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter

I'm 6'1", 240 or so, and I fit comfortably in the 162. As compared to the CTSW and Remos G3 I've flown, I'd put the 162 at the bottom as far as comfort goes, as with 2 people in there, it was mildly crowded.

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KSCessnaDriver (ATP MEL, Commerical LTA-Airship/SEL, Private SES, CFI/CFII)
LSA's flown: Remos G3, Flight Design CTSW, Aeronca L-16, Jabiru J170

Frank -- no need for even half fuel for a checkout, i'd say...

KSCessnaDriver -- It says in your signature that you've flown a J170... How was that?

I quite enjoyed it as well. Been a while since I've flown it, but it was fun. Quite a bit of room in it, especially since the airplane has such a big feel to it.

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KSCessnaDriver (ATP MEL, Commerical LTA-Airship/SEL, Private SES, CFI/CFII)
LSA's flown: Remos G3, Flight Design CTSW, Aeronca L-16, Jabiru J170