Cessna's New Sport Light Aircraft Debuts At Oshkosh

July 30, 2008 5:54 p.m. EST

Oshkosh, WI (AHN) - Cessna Aircraft Co. debuted the first production model 162 SkyCatcher at the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture here.

At the 2007 AirVenture, Cessna unveiled plans to develop a light sport aircraft. Within a year, the firm received over 1,000 orders for the SkyCatcher, which is expected to be ready for delivery by the second half of 2009.

Starting at $111,000, the SkyCatcher has a maximum range of 470 nautical miles (870 km) and can cruise at a speed of 118 knots (219 km/hr). The two-seat plane can reach 15,500 feet.

Cessna, the world's largest general aviation airplane manufacturer by sales, operates in 34 countries with about 44,000 employees.