Indiana Flight School Going With Cessna Skyhawk JT-A

Textron Aviation announced on Thursday that a flight school in West Lafayette, Indiana, has placed an order for the upcoming Skyhawk JT-A, which is powered by the Continental CD-155 turbodiesel engine.

Courtesy of Textron Aviation

The order is for a single airplane. The 172 JT-A burns less fuel, fuel that's cheaper, it flies faster, takes off shorter, does better in hot-and-high conditions and has better range and endurance than the gas-piston Skyhawk. The new bird will also feature the new Garmin G1000 NXi cockpit. Textron expects to earn FAA approval for the four-seater later this year, with the delivery to the FBO expected to follow shortly thereafter.

[This article has been updated to correct an error in our reporting that identified the purchaser as Purdue University. The University, which has world-class aviation programs, is not related to the business, Purdue Aviation, that ordered the plane. We regret the error.]

Learn more at Textron.