PopSci's Best of What's New 2007

Aviation & Space
Cessna 162 SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft

THE STARTER PLANE

Few pilots own airplanes, but that could change with the new SkyCatcher, the most sophisticated plane budget-conscious barnstormers can buy brand-new. It’s the first aircraft from a major manufacturer aimed at novice pilots going after the FAA’s new Sport Pilot certificate, which enables them to get their licenses faster and more economically (and carry just one passenger—hence the two-seater design). User-friendly digital instruments make it easy to read navigation and flight information, so the pilot can concentrate on flying. Its electronic trim controls are easier to use than the mechanical ones often found on planes this cheap. The company unveiled the design this year and plans to deliver the first airplanes in 2009. $109,500; cessna.com

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