Fifteen new Textron Aviation Cessna 172 Skyhawk trainers will be joining Florida-based Epic Flight Academy’s fleet. Textron announced during Sun ‘n Fun Expo this week that Epic, based at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport and in operation since 1999, has ordered 43 Skyhawks since 2016. The academy has trained “thousands of students from more than 80 countries” according to the announcement.
Danny Perna, founder and CEO of Epic, said, “This aircraft proves itself with every flight and prepares our students for a successful career. We can’t wait to take delivery and expand our fleet.” The trainers will be equipped with Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics suite with wireless connectivity and an angle-of-attack display.
Chris Crow, vice president of Textron Aviation Piston Sales, said, “The Cessna Skyhawk has been one of the world’s top training aircraft for over six decades. We are thrilled to see these aircraft continue to inspire the next generation of professional pilots through this agreement with Epic Flight Academy.”
Tough to beat a 172 for this purpose, and as a TAA even more versatile, especially with IFR and commercial transition.
What would beat that would be 182 RG. It’s too bad Cessna stopped making the RG version. But if they decided to bring it back, I could see them pricing it around a cool million.
You’re probably not too far off. It’s not that I can’t purchase a new aircraft, it’s just the psychological barrier in my mind that prevents me from parting with the money. Growing up in the 70’s, GA was much more affordable, especially aircraft. No matter how you adjust it for inflation, today’s price structure for light aircraft is way out of hand. A cool million for a plane designed in the 1960’s? No thanks.