Cessna NGP
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This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future aircraft.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the aircraft.
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The Cessna "Next Generation Propeller" [1] Aircraft (NGP) is a proof-of-concept design for a future family of single engine, fixed-gear, high cantilever wing, light aircraft intended for personal, flight training and commercial use.
The single flying prototype, registered N99110, is undergoing testing by USA aircraft company Cessna. The aircraft was first seen publicly in flight on July 24 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
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[edit] Nomenclature
The aircraft was originally introduced as the "Next Generation Piston", but starting in April 2008 Cessna has started referring to it as the "Next Generation Propeller" aircraft instead. After absorbing the recently-purchased Columbia Aircraft line, now known as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400, Cessna indicated that it is re-positioning the NGP to fit logically into its current aircraft fleet. “Our team is working on finalizing the configuration,” said Van Abel, Cessna’s project engineer for the NGP. “We continue to evaluate features and materials that will produce a new, unique aircraft family with a potential for multiple powerplants.” This indicates that the aircraft may become turbine or diesel powered so as not to conflict with sales of the 350 and 400.[1]
[edit] Development
Very little information has been made public about the aircraft since development began sometime in early 2005. Cessna has confirmed that the NGP has been designed specifically to compete with other, newer aircraft. Due to its intended role as competition for the Cirrus SR22, it is often referred to in the aviation press as the “Cirrus Killer.”
To be competitive with the Cirrus SR22, the NGP will likely have a cruise speed in the vicinity of 180 knots (343 km/h) TAS, a useful load around 1,150 lb (522 kg), and a base price around US$350,000. There is no information on the aircraft's runway length requirements at present.
The NGP mock-up displayed at AOPA Air Expo 2006, in Palm Springs, California had five seats. The aircraft is powered by a Lycoming IO-580 FADEC 320 hp engine controlled by a single throttle lever. The aircraft has four doors with a separate baggage door on the left side, tricycle landing gear with a castering nose wheel and a forward-swept high-mounted wing of relatively small area.
Reportedly the prototype has accumulated more than 20 hours of flying time between its first flight on 23 June 2006 and the fly-by on July 24 2006. During its appearance at AirVenture it was fully painted in a factory-style paint scheme and sported wheelpants.
Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton confirmed at AirVenture 2006 that the NGP is intended to be the first of a new family of Cessna singles that will, in the long term, replace the Cessna 172 and 182 in production. Pelton also confirmed that while the prototype is flying with a Lycoming powerplant, Cessna is examining alternative new technology engines as well.
The structure is a blend of composite materials and aluminum, optimizing the available technology.
[edit] Columbia Aircraft Purchase
In September 2007, Cessna made an offer to the bankruptcy court to purchase Columbia Aircraft and their line of high performance single engined aircraft.[2][3] On 27 November 2007 Textron announced that Cessna had successfully purchased Columbia Aircraft for USD$26.4M and would produce its Columbia 350 and 400 as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 at the Columbia factory in Bend, Oregon.[4][5]
There had been speculation that the acquisition of the Columbia line would spell the end of the NGP project, but on September 26, 2007 Cessna Vice President for Sales, Roger Whyte confirmed that development of the Cessna NGP project will continue, regardless of the purchase of Columbia. [6][7]
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] Citations
- ^ a b Grady, Mary (April 2008). Cessna Hints At Change In NGP Project. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Russ Niles (September 22, 2007). Cessna Reportedly Interested in Columbia. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ AvWeb (September 24, 2007). Cessna-Columbia Deal Confirmed; Cirrus Says That's a Good Thing. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Textron (November 2007). Textron's Cessna Aircraft Company to Acquire Assets of Columbia Aircraft. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ Russ Niles (November 27, 2007). Cessna Gets Columbia. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
- ^ Russ Niles (September 22, 2007). Cessna Reportedly Interested in Columbia. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ AvWeb (September 26, 2007). A Low-Wing Cessna Single? Cessna's Roger Whyte Explains Why It Makes Sense. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
[edit] References
- Avweb article on the NGP
- EAA's coverage of the aircraft's unveiling
- Cirrus SR22 performance parameters
- Cirrus SR22 pricing information
- Benenson, Tom, (Editor), Flying Magazine, Oct 2006, pg 21, NGP Means "Next Generation Piston"
- Cessna press release announcing the NGP - accessed 16 October 2006
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
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