Cessna LSA Concept
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The two-seat Cessna LSA or Cessna Sport concept aircraft was announced on July 24, 2006 at EAA AirVenture to study the feasibility of entering the market for aircraft compliant with the FAA's new Light-sport Aircraft category.
The prototype aircraft, N158CS, made its first flight on October 13th, 2006 from McConnell Air Force Base landing at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport, reaching speeds of 110 knots during the flight. [1]
The prototype aircraft's registration of N158CS may indicate that it will be designated as Cessna 158, but that has not been confirmed.
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[edit] Construction
It is known that the structure is mostly aluminum with a fiberglass cowling. Cessna LSA Project head Neal Wilford has indicated in August 2006 that Cessna is investigating the use of "match hole drilling" to reduce costs and simplify construction of the all-metal LSA. This technique is widely used in the kit-plane industry, but would be new to a large manufacturer such as Cessna. [2]. It is also possible that the aircraft may not be built in the USA to save labour costs, but this has not been decided.
The high-wing monoplane has fixed tricycle landing gear, with a castering nosewheel. The wingspan is 30 feet (9.14 m) and internal cabin width is 48 inches (1.22 m). The doors are different from previous two-seat Cessnas in that they open by swinging upward. Controls are unusual for a Cessna in that they are floor-mounted control sticks instead of instrument panel mounted yokes.
[edit] Performance Goals
According to statements by Cessna representatives at Oshkosh in 2006, the airplane is powered by a 100-horsepower (75 kW) Rotax 912S engine, and will attain a maximum level-flight speed of 120 knots (222 km/h) at a gross weight of 1,320 pounds (599 kg) (in both cases, the maximum allowed by the FAA rules governing light-sport aircraft).
[edit] Pricing and Production Targets
Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton has indicated that Cessna is aiming for a price of under USD$100,000 for the aircraft, which Pelton indicated will be a challenge to achieve. If Cessna can produce the completed aircraft at that price Pelton predicts that they will be able to sell 600 of the aircraft per year.[3]
The prototype is being used to gather feedback on the concept of a Cessna LSA. Cessna has not committed to producing the aircraft yet.
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.features:
- a 30-foot high wing,
- side-by-side seating with dual control sticks,
- tricycle gear with a castering nose wheel,
- 100-hp Rotax 912 engine.
Construction is primarily of aluminum, with selective use of composite parts in the cowl, wing and dorsal fin
[edit] External links
- Cessna LSA home page
- EAA's coverage of the aircraft's unveiling
- Cessna press release announcing the LSA
- Cessna press release about the first flight
