Page 63 - World Airnews Magazine July Edition 2020

NEWS DIGITAL

THE ICONIC

CESSNA

NOW

NEWS

THEN

CESSNA

SKYHAWK

CELEBRATES

65 YEARS

piston sales. Today, the Skyhawk remains an integral
“The aircraft quickly established its place part of Textron Aviation’s pilot outreach
as the ultimate training tool, with more efforts with programmes like Top Hawk,
which enables budding pilots to begin their
Textron Aviation has honoured the than 1,100 built and delivered to customers flying journey.
65th anniversary of the first flight of the during its first year of production. We are For the past five years, the programme
incredibly proud of the role the Skyhawk
most popular single-engine aircraft in plays for many pilots as they successfully has connected student pilots from flight
aviation history – the Cessna Skyhawk. take their first solo flight and continue to schools and universities across the US with
Since the aircraft first took to the sky, grow as aviators.” a factory-new Cessna Skyhawk for next-gen
more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been Throughout its celebrated history, the flight training.
delivered to customers around the world - Skyhawk has remained innovative and Textron Aviation also donates discovery
more than any other aircraft in the industry updated with the latest avionic technology. flights to local community organisations,
and solidifying the Skyhawk as the aircraft In 2019, the aircraft, along with the giving Kansas youth the opportunity to
of choice for pilot training. Cessna high-wing piston fleet, received experience the advantages of general
“On June 12, 1955, the Cessna Skyhawk an addition of new standard and optional aviation firsthand.
took to the skies for the first time, paving equipment as part of the Garmin G1000 In 2019, the Textron Aviation flying club
the way for more than six decades of piston NXi next-generation integrated flight completed nearly 200 volunteer flights for
innovation and leadership,” said Chris deck, which provides pilots with enhanced children and students from the greater
Crow, vice president of Textron Aviation control and connectivity in the cockpit. Wichita area. Q

World Airnews | July Extra 2020
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