Civil Air Patrol Orders 21 Cessna Aircraft to Strengthen Lifesaving Fleet
Textron Aviation has announced a major new order from Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The order for 21 additional Cessna piston aircraft will further strengthen the world’s largest Cessna operator fleet, supporting emergency response, youth training, and community service across the United States.
Announced on October 21, 2026, the order includes:
- Seven Cessna Skyhawk 172s
- Eleven Cessna Skylane 182s
- Two Cessna Turbo Skylane T182Ts
- One Cessna Turbo Stationair HD 206
Deliveries are expected to be completed in 2027. CAP currently operates 543 single-engine aircraft and has 72,000 members—including 35,000 adults and 37,000 youth cadets—working from 1,424 locations nationwide.
Since October 2024, CAP has:
- Flown nearly 200,000 flight hours
- Completed 860 search-and-rescue missions
- Saved 104 lives
The new order follows a previous purchase of 15 Cessna aircraft, announced in December 2025, and builds on CAP’s long-standing partnership with Textron Aviation. All powered aircraft in the CAP fleet are equipped with modern avionics, including the Garmin G1000 suite.
In early 2026, CAP reported an estimated $334 million in operational value generated from $73.5 million in federal investment.
Source: AFM Aero – US Civil Air Patrol Orders 21 New Cessna Aircraft for 2027 Delivery