The New Classroom in the Sky

Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 09:15 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Cessna's 162 SkyCatcher is a modern and affordably priced flight trainer.
It features a sophisticated Garmin G300 primary flight display system, specifically designed for the aircraft, offering electronic gyros, an air data computer, and VFR-only GPS.
Design elements include a unique flight control stick system mounted under the instrument panel and gull-wing doors for easy entry.
A ventral fin was added to the tail to improve recovery from aggravated stalls, emphasizing safety.

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Cessna’s 162 SkyCatcher is a totally modern flight trainer at a very reasonable price.

The ventral fin under the tail was added after the original design to improve recovery from aggravated stalls. Cessna

Cessna 162 SkyCatcher Cessna

Garmin designed the G300 system to meet the requirements of the SkyCatcher. The G300 is a full primary flight display (PFD) with electronic gyros and air data computer. It also contains a VFR-only GPS navigator and a database of airports and the airspace system. Cessna

The unique flight control stick system in the 162 places the grip directly ahead of each pilot, but the entire mechanism is mounted under the instrument panel so nothing extends to the floor. The prototype has the optional second Garmin flat-glass MFD. Cessna

The swept-back wing strut moves the strut and main landing gear leg of the 162 aft so there is room for a gull wing door that lifts up for easy entry. Cessna

Cessna 162 SkyCatcher Cessna

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