Textron Aviation will deliver seven Skyhawks, 11 Skylanes, two Turbo Skylanes and a Turbo Stationair HD to the Civil Air Patrol by 2027, supporting its search-and-rescue, training and community missions.
Textron Aviation announced an order from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) for 21 additional Cessna piston aircraft that will support the organisation’s emergency response, training and community missions across the United States, the Independence, Kansas-based manufacturer said on 21 October 2026. Deliveries are expected to be completed in 2027.
The order includes seven Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft, 11 Cessna Skylane 182 aircraft, two Cessna Turbo Skylane T182T aircraft and one Cessna Turbo Stationair HD 206 aircraft. CAP, the world’s largest operator of Cessna aircraft, is a nonprofit organisation and the official civilian auxiliary of the Department of the Air Force, serving as a cost-effective force multiplier for military and government partners through emergency services, joint training and youth programmes.
“These Cessna aircraft help ensure our members are ready when communities need us, whether searching for someone who is missing, responding after a disaster, or introducing young people to aviation,” said Major General Regena Aye, national commander and CEO, Civil Air Patrol. “Our longstanding relationship with Textron Aviation helps give our members the reliable aircraft they need to serve our communities, states, and the nation.”
“Civil Air Patrol has a remarkable ability to turn flight hours into real impact for communities across the country,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Defense & Special Mission Sales, Textron Aviation. “From search and rescue to disaster response and aviation education, these missions demand aircraft that are capable, dependable and ready to serve. We’re proud that Cessna aircraft continue to play a role in helping CAP fulfill that mission.”
CAP’s 72,000 members, including 35,000 adults and 37,000 youth, operate from 1,424 locations nationwide, supported by a fleet of 543 single-engine aircraft. Since October 2024, the organisation has flown nearly 200,000 hours, completed 860 search-and-rescue missions and saved 104 lives; since tracking began in 1967, CAP is credited with saving nearly 5,000 lives overall.
Note: CAP reported an estimated $334 million in operational value on a $73.5 million federal investment for the prior year, more than $4.50 in value for every federal dollar invested, according to the organisation’s own figures.
Source and Images: Textron Aviation
