Cessna C-162 Skycatcher Information
A more fun and affordable way to fly!
The Skycatcher is powered by a normally aspirated Continental O-200-D engine of 100 hp. A Skycatcher is a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and may be flown with a Sport Pilot Certificate as a minimum requirement.
A Unique Airplane
The Skycatcher is unique among Cessna aircraft in that it's the only Light Sport Aircraft Cessna has built and has flight and performance characteristics that are different from most of the other Cessna high-wing aircraft.
- The only high-wing Cessna aircraft with a free-castering nosewheel, where you steer by brakes instead of direct mechanical connection
- Unlike other high-wing Cessna aircraft, the flaps do not have heavy air braking action
- Speeds are slower as the landing approach airspeed is about 60 knots and the airplane won't stop flying until below 40 knots as Vso airspeed is 37 knots
- It has the innovative "Stoke" control system which gives the pilot the feel of a stick without interfering with the legroom in the cockpit.
- The Skycatcher is very economical, using only 5.5 to 6 gallons of fuel per hour of flight time.
Performance
Prescott has unique flying challenges as it's a high elevation airport and it's frequently quite warm. This situation leads to what pilots call a "high density altitude day". What that term means is the aircraft's performance acts like it's at a far higher altitude than actual field elevation.
On a really hot day at a high elevation airport, you may not even be able to take off due to density altitude. This situation has led to accidents which has included fatalities.
The C-162 Skycatcher performs strongly in Prescott's challenging aviation environment. Pictured to the left is a comparison chart of the Cessna C-162 and Cessna C-172 takeoff distances over a 50 foot obstacle at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. As you can see, the C-162 takes less distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle than the C-172.