As most aviation enthusiasts would be aware, Cessna have been hard at work developing an LSA (or ultralight) aircraft, titled the 162 Skycatcher.
Flight testing is at an advanced stage, with the test flying program causing a few minor setbacks with two prototype crashes.
Just goes to show they are really putting the little Cessna well and truly through its paces, and when they start delivering them to salivating customers the end result will undoubtedly be typical Cessna fare – robust, reliable, and good value for money.
It will be interesting to see how the 162 fares in sales against some pretty stiff competition from both Europe and Australia – there are some very good-looking and proficient aircraft around at the sort of money the C162 will be selling for, and they have the added advantage of reputation.
But then again, the Cessna reputation is pretty solid too.
Two major selling points are definitely going to be the power plant and the avionics.
Engine-wise, the C162 is fitted with an air-cooled Continental 0-200D capable of producing 100hp at 2,800rpm – for GA converts to RAAus (Recreational Aviation Australia, the governing body for ultralight and LSA aircraft in Oz) this will be a big drawcard.
The C162 comes standard with a comprehensive avionics package including Garmin 300 Flight Display (consisting of two screens, a MFD (Multifunction Display) and PFD (Primary Flight Display), Garmin SL40 Radio, a GTX327 Transponder, and a Digitrak SkyPilot Autopilot.
Now that adds up to some serious investment for a LSA shopper, but I guess the question of whether the package is good value for money or not will depend on the sticker price.
Abacus are first off the line with an offering of the C162 for flightsimmers.
Their boxed package (for both FSX and FS9) is priced at RRP$34.95 AUD + postage.
The software includes four manuals totalling 50 pages in all, with photos giving descriptions of equipment but not much information on how they actually function.
The FSX package includes 14 versions, including official and ‘fantasy’ colour schemes.
External views show a fairly basic level of detail – yes you will see pitot tubes, lots of rivets and tiedown points, but there are some disappointing features too.
The landing light, for example, is a bright white spot of light that appears under the wing – it’s not a physical lamp, just a bright light that can be seen from any angle, including the cockpit.
Internally it’s a different story, with excellent detailing of the dashboard and the display screens for the MFD and PFD.
Shift 1 brings up an excellent full dash panel, while Shift 2 is the PFD, Shift 3 the MFD and Shift 4 the throttle/prop/mixture panel.
Another glitch (especially for simmers like myself who use dual monitors) is that the MFD and PFD panels cannot be unlocked to just the size of the screen, so they can’t be dragged across to the second monitor.
Flying the Flycatcher (surely that name is going to stick) is straightforward.
Expect leisurely acceleration and relatively nimble flight characteristics (compared to say, one of the C162’s larger siblings).
The electric flaps (three stages) work well and the flight characteristics have been set up accurately so you will need to adjust the trim with flap changes.
An interesting little point is that the trim setting is detailed on the MFD along with a T/O (takeoff) indicator, making the ‘trim setting for takeoff’ easy to confirm during takeoff checks.
The electric trim buttons are located on the joysticks, which are an unusual ‘sliding tube’ arrangement extending from the panel.
From my perspective the package is fairly basic for the cost, with a lack of detailing and some unpleasant features (the landing light is just awful).
Having said that, aftermarket ultralight/LSA aircraft are quite rare in both FSX and FS9, so this is at least an opportunity to fly something of that nature.
This Abacus Cessna 162 Skycatcher flight sim is saved by the terrific detail of the panel electronics and the great sound package, but overall I think it’s not the greatest value for money.