Textron Aviation begins deliveries of Cessna Skyhawk aircraft fleet to Kansas State University

Textron Aviation has celebrated the delivery of five new Cessna Skyhawk piston aircraft to the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, expanding the school’s fleet and supporting the university’s growing enrolment in its pilot training programmes.

The Cessna Skyhawk is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc, a Textron Inc company, and the five aircraft are part of a 10-aircraft order which was announced in October 2021 and will expand the school’s fleet of Skyhawk aircraft to 22.

The Skyhawks were delivered from Cessna’s manufacturing campus in Independence, Kansas, where all of the company’s piston products are assembled and completed.

Chris Crow, vice president, Piston Sales, Textron Aviation, said: “Textron Aviation is committed to providing support to the training and development of the next generation of pilots, and the Cessna Skyhawk is an excellent choice to fulfil that mission. This delivery also gives us a great opportunity to celebrate another milestone achievement in our long-standing relationship with Kansas State University.”

Deliveries of the remaining five custom-exterior Skyhawks – each equipped with the latest Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system – will be completed later this spring.

Textron Aviation has a long-term relationship with the K-State Aerospace and Technology Campus, located in Salina, Kansas, that began with the programme’s inception in 1987. K-State was also one of the first universities to participate in Textron Aviation’s Top Hawk programme, which provides selected schools with the opportunity to fly a custom-branded Skyhawk for flight training and promotional activities.