AOPA will be closing early at 12pm, Friday September 4th, and will remain closed through Monday in observance of the holiday. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, September 8th.
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1996: April 16 saw the first flight of the new Skyhawk. A May 1996 In Flight USA article announced the new 172's first flight at Cessna's East Pawnee Field. Production test pilot Lionel Diamond, who stayed aloft for 25 minutes, piloted the airplane.