Business & GA

Cessna racked up 720 orders worth $75 million for its SkyCatcher light sport aircraft in the two weeks since it was launched at AirVenture in Oshkosh (Flight International, 24-30 July).

Deliveries of the 600kg (1,320lb) all-metal two-seater are to begin in the second half of 2009, with the first 1,000 costing $109,500 and subsequent units priced at $111,500.

Cessna expects to build up to 700 aircraft a year at full rate and is targeting the flight training market.

The SkyCatcher features an exclusive Garmin glass cockpit - the G300 - and a Teledyne Continental O-200D 100hp (75kW) engine driving a fixed-pitch composite propeller and giving a cruising speed of 118kt (220km/h) and range of 870km (470nm).

Cessna SkyCatcher official site ...