Produced between 2009 and 2013, some 275 Skycatchers were built, and 171 examples remain on the FAA registry today. Designed as a lightweight, sporty evolution of Cessna’s past two-seat offerings, the 162 has a distinctly different feel.

In addition to generally lacking the tired, worn-out appearance of so many legacy models, the design itself is a breath of fresh air. The cabin is significantly wider and roomier than old 150s and 152s, with larger windows and doors. A technical bedliner-like material protects the cabin floor and walls, with a look and feel far nicer than the cracked plastics and faded carpet of yesteryear.

The sportiness extends to the flight controls in the form of dual “stokes” – combination sticks and yokes. Attached to the underside of the panel, these cleverly provide the feel of a stick without taking up valuable floor space. This provides larger pilots and pilots with limited mobility with easier cabin access compared to traditional side-by-side stick arrangements.

The panel is correspondingly modern. Rather than gyros, vacuum systems, and clunky radios dating back to the Nixon administration, the Skycatcher features modern Garmin avionics and a clean, intuitive panel layout. The right side of the panel tapers downward to provide more forward visibility to the passenger.

This particular Skycatcher comes with a new exhaust, ADS-B out, and new tires. It has only 1,352 hours on the airframe since new, with the same number of hours on the engine. With a 2000-hour TBO, the engine will likely provide years of reliable service before requiring an overhaul. Learn more about Skycatcher ownership here.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance and quickly calculate your monthly payment using the airplane finance calculator. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com. 

The post Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 2012 Cessna 162 Skycatcher appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

• READ MORE: Cessna 162 Skycatcher: It‘s Here!

Pilots interested in a unique opportunity to own a modern, low-time aircraft for a price on par with older, higher-time types should consider this 2011 Cessna 162 Skycatcher, which is available for $65,500 on AircraftForSale.

Compared to a more common 150 or 152, the Skycatcher provides a roomier cabin, larger windows, easier cabin access, and unique, panel-mounted control sticks. A clean panel layout and modern Garmin avionics further elevate the feel beyond that of similarly-priced 1960s-era 150s. ADS-B compliance boosts safety while unlocking airspace that would be off-limits without it.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

The post Bargain Buy on AircraftForSale: 2011 Cessna 162 Skycatcher appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.