Jim Moore has posted over on the AOPA about Sporty’s 172LTE refurbished Cessna program. Sporty’s announced the program back in December (you can read about it HERE). From the article:
Sporty’s refurbished Cessna 172LITE project caught on fast.
A used Skyhawk with an overhauled engine, new interior, and a fresh coat of paint (among other improvements) will rent for $99 an hour at Sporty’s Academy at Clermont County Airport in Batavia, Ohio. The announcement in December got the phone ringing and Charlie Masters’ inbox filling. Masers, vice president of aircraft sales at Eastern Cincinnati Aviation, the Sporty’s fixed-base operation, said a 172LITE currently in the paint shop will be available in mid-February for $132,900, with more to follow.
“There is industry-wide demand for a basic, affordable airplane for the training and rental market for which the 172LITE hits the spot,” Masters said in a Jan. 28 news release.
The price of each aircraft will vary, along with the time required to complete the tip-to-tail refurbishment.
“We can either find an airframe or I am currently talking to a flight school about refurbishing their fleet,” Masters said in an email. “Price, of course is very dependent on the condition of the ‘donor’ airframe and options requested.”
The refurbishment includes inspection and replacement as needed of windows, cables, switches, lights, and most other items. The stock plastic instrument panel itself is replaced with a metal version, and the avionics are inspected and replaced as needed. In the Sporty’s version, the avionics are kept simple with a comm radio and transponder installed, though buyers can elect to have additional instrumentation as needed.
You can read the whole article over on the AOPA website HERE.