Fifth New Cessna 172 Added to Training Fleet

This summer, The Ohio State University Flight Education program received its fifth Cessna 172, which completes the agreement with Cessna announced in the summer of 2015. Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced last year at the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In and Expo that it has signed a long-term agreement with The Ohio State University’s Flight Education program. The agreement included an order for five Cessna Skyhawk 172 training aircraft and support for aircraft delivered under the contract.

“The Ohio State University’s Flight Education program is a leading aviation resource for our country, so having them choose Cessna as a long-term aircraft partner demonstrates the great value of the Skyhawk as a flight training platform.” said Doug May, vice president, Piston Aircraft.

The new Skyhawks augment Ohio State’s training fleet that includes 172s and 310s, among others.

“The new Skyhawks will continue upgrades to the fleet that will give aviation students enrolled in the university’s Center for Aviation Studies access to the more advanced avionics and NextGen compatible systems that they likely will encounter when they graduate and move into professional aviation careers,” added Brandon Mann, Director of Flight Education for The Ohio State University.

The Ohio State University traces its aviation roots to 1917 when the United States War Department established Schools of Military Aeronautics at six universities, including Ohio State. Through the years, a number of government-run flight schools were set up on campus before the Board of Trustees established the School of Aviation in 1942. Today, the Flight Education program is operated for the College of Engineering by The Ohio State University Airport.

About the Cessna Skyhawk 172

The Skyhawk is the world standard for pilot training and is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the G1000 avionics system, and proven dependability. More Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 48,000 in service since 1955.