Let's Get Real Here.

Cessna Launches Light Sport Aircraft Program


Wichita, Kan., July 10, 2007 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc.
(NYSE:TXT) company, today announced it will proceed with its Light
Sport Aircraft (LSA) program and will unveil a full scale mock-up and
program details at the Experimental Aircraft Association's Air Venture
in Oshkosh, Wis., later this month.

"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," said Cessna Chairman, President and
CEO Jack J. Pelton. "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," Pelton said.

Details of the program will be announced during the EAA show at a
press conference that will be held at the Air Venture Museum, Eagle
Hangar, on Sunday, July 22, at 8:30 a.m.

The company is also planning to conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony at
its aircraft exhibit at the show (Exhibit No. 143-156) on Monday, July
23, at 8:30 a.m., and will also hold a forum on the Cessna LSA program
the same day, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m., at the Honda Forum, Pavilion 7.
EAA President Tom Poberezny, along with Pelton, will participate in
all three events.

Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest
manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2006, Cessna delivered
1,239 aircraft, including 307 Citation business jets, and reported
revenues of about $4.2 billion and a backlog of $8.5 billion. Since
the company was originally established in 1927, more than 189,000
Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the
world. The global fleet of almost 5,000 Citations is the largest fleet
of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft
Company is available at www.cessna.com."

My questions:

1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? Look at it from two standpoints: labor and materials, and
from revenue per square foot of plant floor space.

2. Where are they going to make this thing?

3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300. Can two 300 pounders fly
this thing? I know CFIs who tell me they are starting Denny the
Dentist in Skylanes now because they are too fat to be comfortable in
the Skyhawk.

That's just a few. Others later.

"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
ups.com...


1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? ...
2. Where are they going to make this thing?

I think that we can safely leave #1 and #2 to Cessna management.

3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300.

To me, this is the real issue. The problem is not just with Cessna. other
2-seat LSAs also can't hold two real-world pilots.

Since the max 1320 pound gross weight maximum of the average LSA is set
more by the rule book than by engineering and physics, one must suspect that
these aircraft are being marketed with a wink. They are actually perfectly
capable of carrying more payload than they are certified for.

Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

No, of course not.

Vaughn

Dentist in Skylanes now because they are too fat to be comfortable in
the Skyhawk.

That's just a few. Others later.

On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:52:33 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:


"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
oups.com...


1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? ...
2. Where are they going to make this thing?

I think that we can safely leave #1 and #2 to Cessna management.

3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300.

To me, this is the real issue. The problem is not just with Cessna. other
2-seat LSAs also can't hold two real-world pilots.

Since the max 1320 pound gross weight maximum of the average LSA is set
more by the rule book than by engineering and physics, one must suspect that
these aircraft are being marketed with a wink. They are actually perfectly
capable of carrying more payload than they are certified for.

Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?

Roger (K8RI) wrote:
On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:52:33 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:


"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
roups.com...


1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? ...
2. Where are they going to make this thing?

I think that we can safely leave #1 and #2 to Cessna management.

3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300.

To me, this is the real issue. The problem is not just with Cessna. other
2-seat LSAs also can't hold two real-world pilots.

Since the max 1320 pound gross weight maximum of the average LSA is set
more by the rule book than by engineering and physics, one must suspect that
these aircraft are being marketed with a wink. They are actually perfectly
capable of carrying more payload than they are certified for.


Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?


Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?



I'm guessing MAYBE a Navion.
But I'd want to check the POH carefully before trying it!

Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?

I'm guessing MAYBE a Navion.
But I'd want to check the POH carefully before trying it!



T-6,or any mil trainer besides maybe a old Ryan. Even a T-34 will
accomodate as heavy a pilot as will fit.

On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:21:57 -0700, Bret Ludwig
wrote:


Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?

I'm guessing MAYBE a Navion.
But I'd want to check the POH carefully before trying it!



T-6,or any mil trainer besides maybe a old Ryan. Even a T-34 will
accomodate as heavy a pilot as will fit.

Two 300 pounders? These are neither light sport, or 4 passenger
aircraft though.

Roger (K8RI) wrote:
On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:52:33 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:

"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
ups.com...

1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? ...
2. Where are they going to make this thing?
I think that we can safely leave #1 and #2 to Cessna management.
3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300.
To me, this is the real issue. The problem is not just with Cessna. other
2-seat LSAs also can't hold two real-world pilots.

Since the max 1320 pound gross weight maximum of the average LSA is set
more by the rule book than by engineering and physics, one must suspect that
these aircraft are being marketed with a wink. They are actually perfectly
capable of carrying more payload than they are certified for.

Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?

A 182, for one. For that matter, our old 177RG, if you threw some weight
in back for balance.

Bzzzzt. A 1958 182, normally equipped and with full fuel is 4" forward of
the cg limit with 2 300# in the front seats. Even if you max out the
baggage aft limit, it doesn't come back into the envelope until almost all
of the fuel is burned.

Jim

--
"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
--Henry Ford


"Rich Ahrens" wrote in message
...



A 182, for one. For that matter, our old 177RG, if you threw some weight
in back for balance.

Owned a 57 Lane... Yup, you developed real upper body strength after a
few hundred landings, pulling that yoke all the way to your chin...
Never thought it was a problem, though...

denny

On Aug 26, 10:00 pm, Rich Ahrens wrote:
Roger (K8RI) wrote:
On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:52:33 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:

"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
roups.com...

1. How much cheaper is this thing going to be to produce than a
Skyhawk? ...
2. Where are they going to make this thing?
I think that we can safely leave #1 and #2 to Cessna management.
3. The average person who can afford an airplane in America now
weighs upwards of 250 lbs and some top 300.
To me, this is the real issue. The problem is not just with Cessna. other
2-seat LSAs also can't hold two real-world pilots.

Since the max 1320 pound gross weight maximum of the average LSA is set
more by the rule book than by engineering and physics, one must suspect that
these aircraft are being marketed with a wink. They are actually perfectly
capable of carrying more payload than they are certified for.

Can two 300 pounders fly this thing?

Lordy, two 300 pounders in the front seats of a Cherokee would be too
much. What 4 passenger production GA plane could take two 300 pounder
in the front seats and not be out of CG?

A 182, for one. For that matter, our old 177RG, if you threw some weight
in back for balance.

Thanks to the Miracle of Moment we can use a small weight at the very
tail to put forward CG in balance with low amounts of total mass. Most
airplanes are way longer from the CG back than from the CG front.