Cessna’s Light Sport Aircraft, the Model 162 Skycatcher, has been named winner of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Piper General Aviation Award for 2010. The award is made annually to a company or product judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of general aviation.
The 162 achieved required ASTM compliance in late 2009, and the first aircraft was delivered in December. Cessna has more than 1,000 orders for the entry level aircraft, which has a base price of $112,500.
“This recognition for the Cessna design team is well-deserved and makes the hard work worthwhile,” said David Brant, senior vice president, engineering. “An award from AIAA is like winning an Oscar since it comes from fellow aerospace engineering professionals.”
AIAA presents the Piper General Aviation Award for outstanding contributions leading to the advancement of general aviation. The award honors William T. Piper, Sr., who was founder and first president of Piper Aircraft Corporation.
The first recipient of the Piper General Aviation Award in 1989 was Fred Weick of the Piper Aircraft Company. Other winners include James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University, and Sam Williams of Williams International.
AIAA is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. With more than 35,000 individual members worldwide, and 90 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information: AIAA.org or Cessna.com.
Ironic that a very mediocre, troubled, new Cessna won a Piper GA Award. I don’t see where this airplane has made “… an outstanding contribution to the advancement of general aviation.” unless it is because of the order book. The only reason that this ho-hum LSA has 1000 orders is because Cessna Pilot centers are ordering them to replace aging C-150 type trainers. The C-150 should have gotten the award because of its outstanding service to the training industry. I trained in one more than 40 years ago and remember it fondly. Of all of the LSA aircraft available, the C-162 is last on my list.