When comparing the Cessna 182 to the 185, it’s worth understanding the genesis of both designs in the venerable and much loved Cessna 180. Introduced in 1952 as a four-seat conventional landing gear aircraft, the Cessna 180 was initially powered by the 225 hp Continental O-470 series engine, upgraded to 230 hp four years later. …
Introduction Let me introduce you to the design that spawned the ubiquitous Cessna 150, namely, the Cessna 120 and 140 series of aircraft. It was the Cessna 140 that first appeared in our skies in 1946, followed one month later by the economy version 120. Both aircraft had two seats, conventional landing gear, a monocoque …
Cessna 120 Guide and Specs : Is It Powerful Enough? Read More »
The Cessna 195: A Vintage Aircraft to Love Today If ever you search for a definition of class or elegance, the Cessna 195 is the epitome of both. Designed in an era long since gone, Cessna produced the 190 and 195 aircraft immediately post-WWII as their last radial-engined aircraft. A classic design, the 195 is …
Cessna 195 Guide and Specs : All About The 195 Businessliner Read More »
Introduction In the 1950s, the US Navy was seeking a replacement for their piston-powered Douglas AD Skyraider. They set clear expectations of a carrier-capable, jet-powered light-attack aircraft. Required parameters were a top speed not less than 500mph, a combat radius of 345 miles with a 2000 lb weapons load, and a maximum takeoff weight of …
Douglas A4 Skyhawk History : What Are Its Upgrades? Read More »
Comparing Cessna’s: The 414 versus 421 Introduction With Cessna arguably at the top of the heap regarding the production of half a dozen serious corporate twin-engine piston aircraft, a perennial disagreement exists in the aviation world on which model holds the crown as ‘the best.’ Many regard the 421 Golden Eagle as the monarch, yet …
Introduction As the story goes, it was 1960, and Piper was falling behind in Cherokee production generally and their emerging PA-28 Cherokee 140 trainer specifically. With Piper seeking to compete with the Cessna 150 trainer, a team assembled to discuss a strategy to quickly design a gap filler aircraft until the Pa-140 became available. At …
Piper Colt Guide and Specs : Is The PA-22-108 Best For You? Read More »
A few things are guaranteed to get your attention on an airfield; one of them is the sound of a Cessna 185 at full throttle about to launch. That distinctive snarl is legendary, and while it can only go on for 5 minutes before the pilot must reduce manifold pressure, it’s the sound of raw …
Cessna 185 Guide and Specs : Is The Skywagon Best For You? Read More »
Introduction When a company sells 200 aircraft in its first year of production, you can be sure the money invested in the design development has been worth it. So it was in 1968 when Cessna introduced the first model Cessna 421, a design based on that of the Cessna 411. The company designed the aircraft …
Cessna 421 Guide and Specs: Everything You Need To Know Read More »
Introduction The genesis of the Piper Saratoga resulted from a hurricane in 1972, whose flooding wiped out much of the Piper plant at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Also destroyed was the tooling for the then-popular single and twin Piper Comanche. Given Comanche’s were labor-intensive to build, Piper chose to design a new retractable gear aircraft based …
Piper Saratoga Guide and Specs : Is It A Reliable Aircraft? Read More »
Introduction There was a time in aviation history when aircraft manufacturers were falling over themselves to serve a seemingly insatiable demand for executive-level light twin-engined aircraft. Reaching fever pitch in the 1980s, Cessna had positioned itself well for the demand, offering light twins for almost every conceivable subsection of the market. The design of the …
Cessna 414 Guide and Specs : Is It High Performance? Read More »
