Cessna NGP
Encyclopedia
The Cessna Next Generation Propeller Aircraft (NGP) is a proof-of-concept design for a future family of single engine, fixed-gear
, high cantilever
wing, light aircraft intended for personal, flight training
and commercial use.
The single flying prototype
, registered N99110, was flight tested by Cessna
and first seen publicly in flight on 24 July 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
line, now known as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400, Cessna indicated that it was re-positioning the NGP to fit logically into its current aircraft fleet. "Our team is working on finalizing the configuration," said Van Abel, Cessna’s project engineer for the NGP in April 2008. “We continue to evaluate features and materials that will produce a new, unique aircraft family with a potential for multiple powerplants.” This indicates that the aircraft may become turbine or diesel powered so as not to conflict with sales of the 350 and 400.
, it is often referred to in the aviation press as the "Cirrus Killer".
The NGP mock-up displayed at AOPA
Air Expo 2006, in Palm Springs, California
had five seats. The aircraft was at that time intended be powered by a Lycoming IO-580 FADEC
320 hp engine controlled by a single power lever. The design has four doors with a separate baggage door on the left side, tricycle landing gear
with a caster
ing 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 July 24 2006. During its appearance at AirVenture it was fully painted in a factory-style paint scheme and sported wheelpants. The structure is a blend of composite material
s and aluminum
, optimizing the available technology.
Cessna President and CEO
Jack Pelton confirmed at AirVenture 2006 that the NGP was intended at that time to be the first of a new family of Cessna singles that would, 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.
On 27 November 2007 Cessna purchased Columbia Aircraft from bankruptcy for US$26.4M including its Columbia 350 and 400 line, which are in the same size and performance class as the NGP. These were introduced into the Cessna line as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 and initially built at former Columbia factory in Bend, Oregon
. In 2009 Cessna closed the Bend plant and moved production to Wichita. The introduction of the similar Columbia designs caused media speculation that this would spell the end of the NGP project, but on September 26, 2007 Cessna Vice President for Sales, Roger Whyte confirmed that development of the Cessna NGP project would continue, regardless of the purchase of Columbia.
In January 2009 Cessna CEO Jack Pelton gave an update on current Cessna projects under development and mentioned the 162 SkyCatcher, Cessna Citation Columbus
and the Citation CJ4. No mention of the NGP project was made and the project's webpage was deleted.
On 30 March 2011 at Sun 'n Fun
Cessna President Jack Pelton was interviewed by Paul Bertorelli of AvWeb about the NGP project and he indicated that it was "inactive but not mothballed" at that time, awaiting the right engine and avionics combination.
By August 2011 the prototype was no longer on the Federal Aviation Administration
registry.
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
, high cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
wing, light aircraft intended for personal, flight training
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
and commercial use.
The single flying prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
, registered N99110, was flight tested by Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
and first seen publicly in flight on 24 July 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Nomenclature
The aircraft was originally introduced as the "Next Generation Piston", but starting in April 2008 Cessna began referring to it as the "Next Generation Propeller" aircraft instead. After absorbing the recently-purchased Columbia AircraftColumbia Aircraft
The Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer that designed and built light general aviation aircraft. In November 2007 it became a division of Cessna.-History:...
line, now known as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400, Cessna indicated that it was re-positioning the NGP to fit logically into its current aircraft fleet. "Our team is working on finalizing the configuration," said Van Abel, Cessna’s project engineer for the NGP in April 2008. “We continue to evaluate features and materials that will produce a new, unique aircraft family with a potential for multiple powerplants.” This indicates that the aircraft may become turbine or diesel powered so as not to conflict with sales of the 350 and 400.
Design and 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 other, newer aircraft. Due to its intended role as competition for the Cirrus SR22Cirrus SR22
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft, built by Cirrus Aircraft starting in 2001. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower engine...
, it is often referred to in the aviation press as the "Cirrus Killer".
The NGP mock-up displayed at AOPA
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is a Frederick, Maryland-based non-profit political organization. Incorporated on 15 May 1939, AOPA's membership consists mainly of general aviation pilots in the United States...
Air Expo 2006, in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
had five seats. The aircraft was at that time intended be powered by a Lycoming IO-580 FADEC
FADEC
Full Authority Digital Engine Control is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an electronic engine controller or engine control unit , and its related accessories that control all aspects of aircraft engine performance...
320 hp engine controlled by a single power lever. The design has four doors with a separate baggage door on the left side, tricycle landing gear
Tricycle gear
Tricycle gear describes an aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one wheel in the front, called the nose wheel, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity...
with a caster
Caster
A caster is an undriven, single, double, or compound wheel that is designed to be mounted to the bottom of a larger object so as to enable that object to be easily moved...
ing 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 July 24 2006. During its appearance at AirVenture it was fully painted in a factory-style paint scheme and sported wheelpants. The structure is a blend of composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
s and aluminum
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, optimizing the available technology.
Cessna President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Jack Pelton confirmed at AirVenture 2006 that the NGP was intended at that time to be the first of a new family of Cessna singles that would, in the long term, replace the Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
and 182
Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
in production. Pelton also confirmed that while the prototype is flying with a Lycoming powerplant, Cessna is examining alternative new technology engines as well.
On 27 November 2007 Cessna purchased Columbia Aircraft from bankruptcy for US$26.4M including its Columbia 350 and 400 line, which are in the same size and performance class as the NGP. These were introduced into the Cessna line as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 and initially built at former Columbia factory in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
. In 2009 Cessna closed the Bend plant and moved production to Wichita. The introduction of the similar Columbia designs caused media speculation that this would spell the end of the NGP project, but on September 26, 2007 Cessna Vice President for Sales, Roger Whyte confirmed that development of the Cessna NGP project would continue, regardless of the purchase of Columbia.
In January 2009 Cessna CEO Jack Pelton gave an update on current Cessna projects under development and mentioned the 162 SkyCatcher, Cessna Citation Columbus
Cessna Citation Columbus
|-See also:-References:* , Flight International, Reed Business Information, February 6, 2008. Retrieved on February 6, 2008.-External links:* *...
and the Citation CJ4. No mention of the NGP project was made and the project's webpage was deleted.
On 30 March 2011 at Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April....
Cessna President Jack Pelton was interviewed by Paul Bertorelli of AvWeb about the NGP project and he indicated that it was "inactive but not mothballed" at that time, awaiting the right engine and avionics combination.
By August 2011 the prototype was no longer on the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
registry.
External links
- Cessna NGP home page (archived copy)
- Photos of the Cessna NGP on AvWeb
- Cessna NGP Press release (archived copy)
