Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
CESSNA AIRCRAFT has announced the prices of its re-launched Model 172 Skyhawk and Model 182S Skylane. The first 172 is due to be delivered in January 1997, with the first 182 following a month later. The manufacturer has not produced single-engined aircraft since 1986.
Model 172s, complete with the most basic of three available avionics packages, start at $124,500 while the Model 182S will carry a list price of $190,600. The manufacturer says that this compares with average 1986 prices of $74,705 for the most popular instrument-flight-rules-equipped 172, with the 182 costing around $115,000.
List prices for the basic models in 1986 were $53,050 for the 172 and ranged between $81,000 and $118,500 for the Skylane and Turbo Skylane RG.
Cessna believes that its 1996 prices are "attractive" and says that the difference over the decade is a rise of "slightly over 60% compared with roughly 80% for some comparable products". It adds: "If you took the price of a 172 in 1986 and added the upgrades, and then calculated the equivalent for 1996, we think it would exceed $200,000."
Industry sources say that price rises for other comparable piston singles over the same period include a leap from around $69,000 for a 1986 Piper Warrior III to around $134,000 for a similar model today. A Mooney 20J, costing between $97,000 and $98,900 depending on equipment fit, in 1986, would command a price of around $231,700 in a 1996 listing.
The first reaction on the prices, from both industry and users, is favourable. The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association says: "As a consumer advocate, the lower the price the better. Cessna coming back into the marketplace like this is a good sign of more competitiveness."
Some flight-training-school operators believe that the pricing of the new models, particularly of the 172, could lead to a quick revival of Cessna's market dominance in the training market. Some, however, such as Max Costanza, president of Van Nuys, California-based training school King Aviation Center, believe incentives will "-be the key. I have six Skyhawks and I would love six new ones. But it would be a shame if they raise those prices soon. Otherwise people will drift to other aircraft that are sexier and nicer - even though the Cessnas have been upgraded."
Costanza adds: "If they really want to kill the competition, they should be giving incentives to current 172 owners and flight schools."
Cessna plans to build nearly 600 Skyhawks in 1997, and "at least" 1,000 in 1998. Production of the upgraded 182 Skylane, which was flown for the first time in July, is expected to top 300 in 1997 and to increase to almost 600 in 1998. Altogether, 2,000 single-engined aircraft are expected to be produced in 1998, including the first new Model 206 Stationairs. Type certification of the new Model 182 is expected in October.
Source: Flight International
