I am very surprised at this move by Cessna. If I had interest in the 162 model, it is now gone. I can buy many other foreign made light sport aircraft, and from countries less threatening than China. I now realize that the Cessna of tomorrow may not be the good, American made product that the Cessna of yesterday was.

What is wrong with our manufacturers? I am beginning to think that China has bought into most of the large companies in the US. In an Alarming fashion, nearly all manufactured goods seem to be originating from there.

Next step- Tech support in India for the product????? Of perhaps from China as well?

Beware,this could set a precedent for support on all our Cessnas.

Cessna responds: "Making the Case for China"

http://www.cessnaskycatcher.com/home/124.html

I just read Cessna's response and I wonder if they don't watch the news or read the papers about the toxic pet foods produced in China, the lead based painted toys produced in China, the recalls of toxic personal items such as toothpaste produced in China?????

Like most of you, I will keep my 1967 Cessna and continue to maintain it rather than ever buy a Chinese Cessna. Cessna touts the quality control of the global aerospace industry but I'll bet the toy companies and pet food distribtors all said the same about their products when they started getting them from China.

Global industry is not a bad thing but in this case, China has a bad track record and I don't trust them.
JMHO.
Reece
N3854J

I echo the foregoing sentiments.

The American spirit that many of us recognize and value is alive and well in one pursuit and that is aviation.  Fly from airport to airport across the US (the smaller ones in particular) and you will reacquaint yourself with a great country.

The only thing that prevents any US company from building anything better and more efficiently than anyone else is that we don't believe in our ability to do so. 

Companies like Cessna have a responsibility that goes beyond making a profit.  I realize that aviation is a tough business, and it's hard to make money on small planes, but Cessna needs to exemplify the "can do" attitude which built this country.

I'll consider buying a Cessna built in China when the same fraction of Chinese civilians can buy one, and fly it with the same degree of freedom that we enjoy here.

I'll bet any executive at Cessna can guess when that day might come....

Mike Anderson
N30064

Be American, buy American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not surprised by the Chinese manufacturing.  It's become a world-wide economy.  Piper's SportCruiser is also not domestic in origin, for example. These international economic ties are one of the things that help promote international cooperation on a lot of things, help prevent wars, help one country grow with another, including helping us grow from them.  if their country makes money, they can better buy other products of ours, which helps create more American jobs in other sectors...  It will also help to break their communist grip on their country, freeing hundreds of millions of people.

But I'm interested in the Skycatcher, anyway, preferring it over the Sportcruiser, because I like the high wing.  In my hangar, organizing the plane, it's a pain to walk around the low wing all the time.  Been there, done that.

Also, I like the high wing because it's just so nice to fly somewhere and sit under the wing for a lazy afternoon.  Nice.