Sun N Fun News: Cessna Talks About LSA Progress

Front and center in Cessnas outside display at Sun N Fun was the rakish NGP (next-generation piston) four-seater and Light Sport proof-of-concept aircraft. Sporting a cheeky new cowl, the POC, now called the CSA, for Cessna Sport Aircraft, was shown with a Continental O-200 replacing the Rotax 912 the airplane originally flew with. According to project chief pilot Kirby Ortega, the CSA development is continuing apace, though he pointed out that the existing airframe is not a prototype but just a POC. Chief designer Neal Wilford indicated that the CSA is a very conventional all-metal airframe using cables rather than torque tubes; consumers have shown an interest in parachutes, digital panels, and floats (sorry, no taildragger). Cessnas president Jack Pelton is said to be close to making the go/no-go decision on the project.