A Cessna 172, N model, painted in a Snow White base color accented by Capri Blue and solid black stripes was delivered last week to Toledo-Ohio based Suburban Aviation in Southeast Michigan. Originally built more than 25 years ago, Suburban’s new airplane is the first upgraded version of an Ascend 172 remanufactured by Yingling Aviation in Wichita. Suburban Aviation, named an Ascend dealer in September of last year, plans to use the aircraft as a demonstrator to market additional Ascend aircraft to prospective owners. In addition to marketing the Ascend 172s, Suburban provides the flight instruction for Eastern Michigan University at Willow Run Airport (KYIP) in Ypsilanti through sister company, Eagle Flight Centre.
Yingling’s remanufacturing process on a Cessna 172 begins with a major airframe inspection including compliance with all supplemental inspection document items, an engine and propeller overhaul. Suburban’s Ascend 172 was equipped with a host of new cockpit instrumentation and navigation gear, including a Garmin G500 EFIS, Sandia Quattro standby instrument pack, GTN-650 Global Positioning System (GPS), GMA-350 audio panel, GNC-255A Nav/Com, GTX-345 ADS-B In/Out transponder, LED lighting, and Rosen Sun Visors.
Tom Trumbull, Suburban’s CEO, explained the difficulty in convincing potential lease-back customers of the business case for a brand new 172 currently selling for more than $400,000. “Now that we have an actual ‘like-new’ airplane to show prospects, the concept of a lease-back agreement becomes possible,” he said. “It’s practical, it offers owners a potential ‘win-win’ proposition, and it’s actually affordable again. We expect this plane to be extremely popular for training and personal rentals.” An Ascend remanufactured 172 sells for $231,900.
Yingling’s Chairman and CEO Lynn Nichols explained that eight of the “N” models have been remanufactured to date and that a “P” model is currently in the works. Those first eight “N” models were used to help Yingling establish its remanufacturing process and solidly define the supply chain. With that work complete, Nichols said, “We feel comfortable moving to the [172] Models P, R & S, including the N for the Ascend program.”
