Texas simulator and flight training company Redbird has entered the aircraft market by re-engineering an old Cessna 172.
The aircraft, known as a Redhawk, made its public debut at Oshkosh this week and features a 135 hp Continental Centurion diesel, two-screen Aspen Evolution 2000 avionics, KSN770 nav/comm and FADEC.
The aim of the Redhawk is to see if high-hour C172 airframes can be modernised for use in training at a lower cost than buying new Skyhawks.
Redbird expects the new aircraft will have a TAS of 127 knots and drink a miserly 16 litres of Jet-A per hour.
Centurion engines (formerly Thielert) already have supplemental type certificates (STCs) for the C172 airframe, as does the Aspen glass, meaning the aircraft doesn't need to go through the certification process.
Redbird will be testing the Redhawk over the coming weeks and expects to release performance figures by the end of October.