The Model 162 Skycatcher is a two-seat light-sport aircraft. The latest aircraft in the Cessna general aviation product line, its intended market is flight training and personal use.

Development
The Cessna 162 was originally announced on July 24 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as the Cessna LSA (also referred to as the Cessna Sport), via a marketing study of the feasibility of producing an aircraft compliant with the FAA's new Light-sport Aircraft category.

The prototype aircraft, N158CS, made its first flight on October 13 2006, taking off from McConnell Air Force Base and landing at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport. On its first flight it reached a speed of 110 knots. This first flight was only nine months after the project was started. Cessna had announced its intentions to study the feasibility of developing and producing an LSA aircraft on June 6 2006.

On July 10 2007, Cessna, a division of Textron, formally announced the launch of the Skycatcher program. Cessna issued a press release on July 22 2007 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with final production version details about the aircraft and also unveiled a full-scale mockup. In making the announcement, Cessna President Jack Pelton said:

After conducting extensive market research, it is clear to us there is a great need for this aircraft as we strive to drive down the cost of flying and learning to fly. We believe this aircraft will make a major contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly because it will be more affordable. We have developed a business case that makes sense; we have incorporated several innovative features into the design; and we believe we can deliver the finest aircraft in the category, combined with our extensive customer service, flight training and distribution networks, at an attractive price.

Construction
The Cessna 162's structure is mostly aluminum with a fiberglass cowling. Cessna LSA Project head Neal Wilford indicated in August 2006 that Cessna was investigating the use of "match hole drilling" to reduce costs and simplify construction of the design. This technique is widely used in the kit-plane industry and in construction of larger aircraft, but would be Cessna's first use in its single-engine line.

It is possible that the aircraft may not be built in the USA to save labour costs, but this has not been announced.

At a January 2007 LSA event, Cessna hinted that the aircraft's wing might be lowered and the cabin/wing interface smoothed from the prototype gull wing fairing configuration. As of January 2007 the prototype had over 50 hours of flight test time, including several long cross country flights.

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 44 inches (1.12 m) at shoulder height. The doors are different from previous two-seat Cessna models in that they open by swinging upward. Controls are unusual for a Cessna (except for the 188 series) in that they are floor-mounted control sticks instead of instrument panel mounted yokes.

Engine
The Cessna 162 will be powered by a Continental O-200D 100-hp (at 2750 r.p.m.) air-cooled, carbureted engine driving a two-bladed fixed-pitch composite propeller.

Avionics
The Cessna 162 Skycatcher will be delivered with a Garmin G300 EFIS installed, as well as a Garmin SL40 communications radio, a GTX327 transponder, and a 121.5 MHz ELT. Flight data will be presented on the G300 in a single, split-screen combination primary flight display and multi-function display. Information can also be shown on two full-screen displays with installation of a second screen, which will be a purchase option.

Flight Rules
The Cessna 162 will be equipped for Visual Flight Rules, day and night flying.

Performance
The Skycatcher will be capable of cruise at speeds as high as 118 knots (136 mph/219 km/h), with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles at a gross weight of 1,320 lb (599 kg).

Pricing and production targets
Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton had originally indicated that Cessna was aiming for a price of under US$100,000 for the aircraft, which Pelton indicated would be a challenge to achieve. At that price point Pelton predicted that Cessna would be able to sell 600 of the aircraft per year.

The July 22 2007 announcement indicated that these price goals were not met and that the introductory price will be USD$109,500 for the first one thousand aircraft and then will rise to $111,500.

Features

• a high wing with 30 ft (9.14 m) span
• side-by-side seating with dual control sticks
• tricycle gear with a castering nose wheel
• 100 hp Continental O-200D engine
• overall height 8.3 ft (2.53 m)
• overall length 22.8 ft (6.95 m)
• wing area 120 ft (37 m)² (11.14 m²
• aspect ratio 7.5
• maximum wing loading 11 pounds per square foot
• cruise speed (77% power at 6,000 feet (1,800 m) altitude) 112 knots (129 mph/208 km/h) (with optional wheel fairings installed)
• cruise range and endurance (77% power at 6,000 feet (1,800 m) altitude) 390 nm (449 miles/723 km); 3.4 hours (with optional wheel fairings installed) with 30 minute fuel reserve
• maximum range and endurance (6000 feet altitude) 470 nm (541 miles/871 km); 5.8 hours (with optional wheel fairings installed)
• service ceiling 15500 feet (4724 m)
• takeoff performance at sea level - 770 feet (235 m) ground roll; 1250 feet (381 m) total distance over 50-foot obstacle
• landing performance at sea level - 420 feet (128 m) ground roll; 1040 feet (317 m) total distance over 50-foot obstacle
• standard empty weight 830 pounds (376.5 kg)
• maximum useful load 490 pounds (222.3 kg)
• maximum baggage weight 50 pounds (22.7 kg)
• usable fuel 24 US gallons (90.8 liter)
• Construction is primarily of aluminum, with selective use of composite parts in the cowl, wing and empennage