Search filter

    • Year
      1906
      2018
    • Length
      6 m
      10 m
    • Height
      2 m
      4 m
    • Width
      1 m
      8 m
    • Diameter
      3 m
      9 m
    • Wing area
      1 m2
      925 m2
    • Wingspan (Beam)
      8 m
      14 m
    • Wing loading
      3 kg/m2
      829 kg/m2
    • Swept
      4 m
      10 m
    • Sweep
      25 deg
      68 deg
    • Aspect ratio
      1
      26
    • Disc area
      1 m2
      460 m2
    • Main rotor diameter
      1 m
      62 m
    • Rotor number
      1 qt
      8 qt
    • Blades per rotor
      4 qt
      5 qt
    • Disc loading
      17 kg/m2
      73 kg/m2
    • Tail rotor diameter
      0 m
      5 m
    • Empty weight
      494 kg
      742 kg
    • Max. takeoff weight (Gross weight)
      154 kg
      575000 kg
    • Loaded weight
      907 kg
      1361 kg
    • Crew
      1 per.
      112 per.
    • Useful load
      26 kg
      90700 kg
    • Payload
      23 kg
      122470 kg
    • Capacity passengers
      1 per.
      400 per.
    • Hardpoints
      1 qt
      2576 qt
    • Ground Speed
      96 km/h
      1500 km/h
    • Max. Speed
      185 km/h
      279 km/h
    • Сruise Speed
      52 km/h
      3087 km/h
    • Stall Speed
      40 km/h
      258 km/h
    • Landing Speed
      68 km/h
      270 km/h
    • Minimum control speed
      24 km/h
      113 km/h
    • Never exceed speed
      107 km/h
      1050 km/h
    • Fuel Capacity
      23 l
      320000 l
    • Fuel External
      142 l
      10025 l
    • Power/mass
      0 hp/kg
      23 hp/kg
    • Thrust/weight
      0 kN/kg
      3 kN/kg
    • Afterburning thrust
      29 kN/kg
      980 kN/kg
    • Total Power
      168 hp
      252 hp
    • Thrust
      1 kN
      1914 kN
    • Service ceiling
      4145 m
      6218 m
    • Static ceiling
      3 m
      5485 m
    • Range (Ferry range)
      927 km
      1392 km
    • Range PTB (Ferry range)
      720 km
      10000 km
    • Сombat radius
      277 km
      7210 km
    • Endurance
      0 h
      150 h
    • Takeoff roll
      20 m
      3200 m
    • Landing roll
      20 m
      2570 m
    • Maximum glide ratio
      7
      43
    • Load factor from
      2 G
      9 G
    • Rate of climb
      214 m/min
      322 m/min
    • Rate of sink
      36 m/min
      56 m/min
    • Time to altitude
      0 min
      105 min
    • Propellers
      1 qt
      8 qt
    • Prop diameter
      1 m
      6 m
    • Prop blade number
      1 qt
      8 qt
    • Guns
      1 qt
      18 qt
    • Bombs
      1 qt
      250 qt
    • Missiles
      1 qt
      24 qt
    • Rockets
      1 qt
      76 qt
    • Torpedoes
      1 qt
      4 qt
    • Bombs weight
      2 kg
      39000 kg
    • Rockets weight
      1 kg
      48 kg
    • Number built
      0 qt
      43000 qt
    • Price
      41 USD
      750000000 USD

Cessna T-41 Mescalero
TypeAircraft
Company

Cessna Aircraft Company

Scheme

Monoplane

High wing

Geometry
Length (m)
1.9
 
8.2
88.7
Height (m)
0.6
 
2.7
50.1
Wings
Wingspan (Beam) (m)
0.1
 
10.9
95
Weights
Empty weight (kg)
8
 
618.3
276,800
Loaded weight (kg)
5
 
1,134
242,500
Speeds
Max. Speed (km/h)
25
 
232
28,165
Power
Total Power (hp)
0.4
 
210
60,000
1 powerplant
Performance
Service ceiling (m)
0.6
 
5,181.6
161,544
Range (Ferry range) (km)
4
 
1,159.4
40,700
Dynamic Performance
Rate of climb (m/min)
1.9
 
268.2
36,000
Stat
When the company Cessna flew its first Model 172 in June 1955, it was far from suspecting that this aircraft would become not only one of the most built aircraft ever, but also that he would serve in more than two dozen air forces all over the world over fifty years after its first flight. However, it took almost ten years for the aircraft to gain attention of the USA Department of Defense which then ordered a light aircraft for the initial training of future pilots of the US Air Force. The Cessna 172 became then the ideal aircraft for serving in most American flying clubs, it became a so-called crucible of military aviation. The Air Force then placed an order for 204 aircraft under the designation T-41A. It was designated Mescalero.

The T-41A was externally a copy of the Cessna 172 for sightseeing. This was a single-engine high-wing monoplane with a bracing truss on each side, and a fixed tricycle landing gear. The classic empennage had very slender tail planes. The machine had a very simple cockpit for dual control and the ability to carry one or two passengers in addition to the instructor and the student.

When in September 1964 the first T-41A entered service, it had a big influence on the pilots who had to use them as first aircraft. The aircraft had the reputation of being simple, solid, and forgive many pilot errors. That’s why the aircraft caught the attention of the US Army and US Navy who were looking for the plane for initial pilot training. First, it replaced some of Bird Dog training machines but also the latest Piper from the Second World War. Then it had to become a plane that may assist the Beech T-34A Mentor with the selection and initial training of young pilots of the US naval air. And if the Navy gave up the idea of acquiring Mescalero, including the arrival of an improved version of Mentor, the T-34C turboprop; the situation wasn’t the same with the US Army, which acquired 255 aircraft under the designation T-41B. The aircraft was almost identical to T41A, with the exception of a more comprehensive system radio and de-icing equipment.

In 1966, the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) also placed Cessna an order for delivery of a particular version of Mescalero, the T-41C. The Academy was looking for an aircraft that could be used for the selection of future pilots, but also for the education of future aerobatic pilots who would fly in the prestigious patrol Thunderbirds. For that order some T-41C were lightened by the mechanics of the USAFA by taking away the defrost system and dual controls. Aerobatic T-41C also flew in tandem.

But the recognition of the Mescalero came in 1968 when the Pentagon and MDAP (Mutual Defence Assistance Plan) allowed the construction and delivery of T-41D, certified copies of the T-41A to the US Air Force, for a total of 238 aircraft. The planes were delivered to NATO nations that didn’t have good aviation industry.

Later about thirty countries bought Cessna 172 for civilian usage and for training missions as well as for communications support missions and even patrol operations. In total something about 864 Mescaleros were built and about 500 of 172 Model for military missions or paramilitary and public service.

Today only Greece and Turkey still have T-41D from the MDAP. Several countries, including Ireland and Burkina Faso, use military title of Reims FR-172, the French version of the Cessna 172 manufactured under license by Reims Aviation. This FR-172 has also served in the course of the 1980s and 1990s within the Direction Générale des Douanes (Main Bureau of the Customs of France) for surveillance missions from the Paris region and southern France. The Department of Defense no longer uses any Mescalero, the last was withdrawn from service in 2005, or half a century after the first flight of a Cessna 172.

In total this aircraft was built, combined military and civilian versions, in amount of more than 47,000 copies, more than any military aircraft including Messerschmitt Bf-109 and Ilyushin Il-2.

Similar aircraft

Get more

Comments