Textron Aviation announced two orders this week for a total of 30 of its Cessna piston singles.
Twenty Cessna 172 Skyhawks will go to Sichuan Longhao Flight Training in China. It will use the high-wing airplanes, to be delivered throughout 2022, for primary pilot training in southwest and central China. According to Textron Aviation, China is seeing growth in its pilot ranks because of the government’s efforts to accelerate the training and development of pilots. Fourteen Skyhawks, three simulators, and a Citation M2 make up the school’s current fleet.
“We are pleased to be part of the efforts in China to cultivate new generations of pilots and promote the common development of aviation,” said Textron Aviation v-p of China sales and strategy Mike Shih.
An order for 10 more Skyhawks also came from Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, which will expand the school’s fleet to 20 Skyhawks at a time when enrollment for pilot training is growing. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of next year. “The addition of these aircraft is a major step toward our vision to meet industry demands by providing students with experience from a primary trainer all the way to a business-class airplane,” said K-State Salina dean and CEO Alysia Starkey.