Indiana Flight School Going With Cessna Skyhawk JT-A

The university’s aviation division is first customer for the upcoming turbodiesel version of the most popular plane in flying history

Plane & Pilot

Friday, April 07, 2017 at 06:36 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Textron Aviation announced an order from Purdue Aviation, a West Lafayette, Indiana flight school, for its new turbodiesel Skyhawk JT-A.
The Skyhawk JT-A will be powered by a Continental CD-155 turbodiesel engine and is touted for better fuel efficiency, performance in various conditions, and increased range compared to the gas-piston model.
The new aircraft will feature the Garmin G1000 NXi cockpit, with FAA approval and delivery expected later this year.

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The order is for a single airplane. The 172 JT-A burns less fuel, fuel that’s cheaper, it flies faster, takes off shorter, does better in hot-and-high conditions and has better range and endurance than the gas-piston Skyhawk. The new bird will also feature the new Garmin G1000 NXi cockpit. Textron expects to earn FAA approval for the four-seater later this year, with the delivery to the FBO expected to follow shortly thereafter.

[This article has been updated to correct an error in our reporting that identified the purchaser as Purdue University. The University, which has world-class aviation programs, is not related to the business, Purdue Aviation, that ordered the plane. We regret the error.]

Learn more at Textron.