Cessna NGP

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The Cessna "Next Generation Piston" Aircraft (NGP) is a single engine, fixed gear, high cantilever wing, light aircraft designed for personal use.

The aircraft is currently a single flying prototype, registered N99110, which is undergoing testing by Cessna. The aircraft was first seen publicly in flight on 24 July 2006 when it conducted three low passes for the press at AirVenture.

[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 the Cirrus SR22 and other newer aircraft. Due to its intended role as competition for the best-selling SR22, it is often referred to in the aviation press as the “Cirrus Killer.”

To be competitive with the 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 pounds (522 kg), and a base price around USD$350k. There is no information on the aircraft's runway length requirements at present. Time will tell where the Cessna NGP falls relative to all these parameters.

The NGP mock-up displayed at AOPA Air Expo 2006, in Palm Springs, California has 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 24 July 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 extent of structural composites versus aluminum used in the NGP has not been confirmed.

[edit] Designation

No Cessna model designation for the NGP has been announced although it is likely that the aircraft will be numbered in the “200” series and have a higher number than the Cessna 210. The current prototype's registration of N99110 is a factory mark that is indicated on the FAA aircraft registry as being reserved by Cessna and does not indicate any model registered against it.