CESSNA stole the show at this year's AirVenture showing off two brand new aircraft.

First was a 'proof-of-concept' two-seat prototype for the US Light Sport category, built in just ten weeks for AirVenture.

Second, just as LOOP exclusively predicted last month, was a sneak preview of Cessna's 'Next Generation Piston' aircraft - it made low passes along the runway at Oshkosh but did not land. However, photos show many of the details that LOOP predicted are fact.

The NGP has forward-swept, strutless high wings and advanced-shaped fuselage. According to Cessna boss Jack Pelton, the aircraft made its first flight from Cessna's HQ at Wichita, Kansas on 23 June, and has since flown 20 hours.

"We're absolutely delighted with the progress we're making on this program," he said. "Development of this aircraft - which is a proof-of-concept aircraft that will represent a family of airplanes - is fulfilling all our expectations, and then some."

Cessna admitted it would be a challenge to produce the Light Sport Aircraft for less than the $100,000 price point it believes is key to entering the market.

"If we can do that, I think the market is very much there," Pelton told  his local newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, adding that even that won't be easy. "As you dissect the cost, if you do business as usual, we'll never make the price point," Pelton said. "We're going to have to look at every possible place to be competitive."

Cessna's super-looking LSA has a high wing spanning 30 feet, side-by-side seating, a 48in wide cabin (six inches wider than  the old Cessna 152), tricycle gear and a 100hp Rotax 912 engine. It also features dual control sticks rather than yokes, upward opening doors, toe brakes and a castoring nosewheel.

Construction is primarily of aluminium, with selective use of composite parts for the cowl, wing and dorsal fin. The first flight of the aircraft is planned for later this year.

"More people have learned to fly in Cessnas than all other aircraft combined," said Pelton. "As the largest producer of single engine piston airplanes in the world, we believe we are well positioned to bring unique capabilities to the LSA market.

"Considering our sales, distribution, training and support networks, it appears this could be a logical extension of our product line. But more importantly, we believe that Light Sport Aircraft may be the key to stimulating new pilot starts, re-energizing our industry and feeding the important pipeline of human talent which is so important to all of us," he said.

"I do want to make clear, however, that we have yet to make the decision to enter the LSA sector. We will be assessing the market and the business case over the next few months and plan to make a go/no go decision in the first quarter of next year."

W: www.cessna.com