Jim N Texas!

This rumor came to me via email:

At the AOPA Flyin earlier in June, a Cessna Dealer says he has seen the
drawings for Cessna’s new single engine entry (not the LSA model).

He says it will be Cardinal like: Cantilevered wing a bit farther back than
the cardinal. fixed gear. 300+ HP; 50″ wide cabin. Speed in the 180 range.
Possibly two seats in the front and an automobile like bench seat in the
back with three seat belts and a pull down cushion in case only two are
riding.

He said the airplane has been painted and is covered up. It might be
announced at Oshkosh. Or at AOPA in the fall.

Interesting. I think a ‘Cardinal Like’ design wouldn’t need 300+ horses. I also have a hard time picturing such a big motor with a wing “a bit farther back than the cardinal”. The wing on the Cardinal is well back as it is. The Cardinal’s wing position is well aft of the wings on lesser Cessnas like the C172 and C182. The Cardinal’s wing is one of the things that make the airplane such a delight to fly and also gives it a very large available CG envelope. But if you hang a big motor in front then it seems to me the temptation would be to bring the wing forward to avoid a forward CG problem.

I believe the fixed gear part, Cirrus and Columbia have shown you don’t need to tuck the wheels up to go fast. But tucking the wheels is still way cool.

This is yet another thing that makes me wonder if I’ll be able to stay away from Oshkosh this year.

airplane,aviation,aircraft, Cessna