UND adds six more Cessna aircraft to its training fleet The UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (Odegard School) has added six more Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft to its training fleet. The airplanes will be delivered next month. UND has acquired 44 new Cessna 172s to its inventory over the past 18 months. “Cessna Aircraft has always been a big supporter of the Odegard School throughout our 41 years in flight training,” said Don Dubuque, director of the school’s extension programs. “The first 20 years of this period, UND used Cessna aircraft as our single-engine trainers. Even during the years that Cessna was not building training aircraft, the company continued support for our students by providing internship and scholarships. We are excited to once again see Cessna Aircraft on our ramp.” Odegard School aviation students will fly about 125,000 hours this year with one of the nation’s largest training fleets of 140 units, comprising 108 airplanes, eight helicopters, six unmanned aerial system craft and 18 simulators, Dubuque said. “The Cessna 172s are making a significant contribution to the growth of our program,” said Odegard School Dean Bruce Smith. “The 172 is a reliable airframe, easy to fly, and offers the student the latest avionics package and that makes it a valuable training tool.” The Skyhawk has become the best-selling, most-flown airplane in the world with more than 43,000 delivered since the first one off the factory line in 1955. The Skyhawk, produced at Cessna’s factory in Independence, Kan., features a Lycoming engine and a Garmin G1000 avionics package. -- Juan Pedraza, Writer/Editor, University Relations, juan.pedraza@und.edu, 777-6571