ViraZH Buys Skyhawks To Train Russia’s Next Generation Pilots

Moscow-based training organization ViraZH has ordered 79 Skyhawks to re-equip its flight schools throughout western Russia. Under an agreement signed today at the JetExpo show at the Russian capital’s Vnukovo-3 Airport, Cessna will start supplying the piston singles in next year’s third quarter and by the time all the deliveries have been made ViraZH will be fielding one of the world’s largest Skyhawk fleets.

“We are delighted to have a strong relationship with ViraZH and are proud it has selected the Cessna 172 Skyhawk to be their training platform,” said Cessna senior sales vice president Kriya Shortt. “This order augments an additional 11 Skyhawks purchased by ViraZH in 2011, highlighting their confidence in our product. It is encouraging to see an increase in both our global customer base and flight training accessibility in Russia.”

The cockpit of the 172 Skyhawk features Garmin’s G1000 all-glass integrated flight deck. “The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the world’s most popular training aircraft and we are confident that this next generation of aviation students who now have access to this fleet will benefit immensely, as have many aviation students before them,” commented Jodi Noah, Cessna’s senior vice president for single engine/propeller aircraft.