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Cessna T-41 Mescalero

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T-41 Mescalero
Cessna T-41D of the 557th Flying Training Squadron
General information
TypePrimary pilot trainer
National originUnited States
ManufacturerCessna
StatusIn service
Primary usersUnited States Air Force
Number builtT-41A : 230
T-41B : 255
T-41C : 52
T-41D : 299
History
Manufactured1964–1996
Introduction date1964
First flightCessna 172 : June 12, 1955
Cessna 175 : April 23, 1956
Developed fromCessna 172
Cessna 175 Skylark

The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft.[1][2][better source needed] The T-41A, used by the USAF for introductory training of pilot candidates with little or no flying experience, was a commercial off-the-shelf 172 with few modifications. Upgraded versions of the T-41 with more powerful engines and more specialized equipment were based on the Cessna 175 (itself a 172 derivative), including the T-41B for the Army, T-41C for the USAF Academy, and the T-41D for the U.S. Military Aid Program. The single-engine piston T-41 entered service in the 1960s and was mostly withdrawn by the USAF by 1995, but some remain in limited military service today, and some military surplus examples are flown by civil owners.

Design and development

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The first production Cessna R172E operating as a T-41B Mescalero with the US Army

In 1964, the US Air Force (USAF) decided to use the commercial off-the-shelf Cessna 172F as a lead-in aircraft for student pilots rather than starting them out in the T-37 jet aircraft. The USAF ordered 237 T-41As from Cessna.[a] The first USAF class (67-A) of students began training on the T-41 from the civilian airport in Big Spring, Texas, in August 1965.[1][2][better source needed]

The T-41B was the US Army version, with a 210 hp (160 kW) Continental IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller in place of the 145 hp (108 kW) Continental O-300 and 7654 fixed-pitch propeller used in the 172 and the T-41A.[4][5][6]

In 1968, the USAF acquired 52 of the more powerful T-41Cs, which used 210 hp (160 kW) Continental IO-360 and a fixed-pitch climb propeller, for use at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).[1][2][better source needed]

In 1996, the aircraft were further upgraded to the T-41D, which included an upgrade in avionics[1][better source needed] and to a constant-speed propeller.

Beginning in 1993, the USAF replaced many of the T-41 fleet with the Slingsby T-3A Firefly for the flight-screening role, and for aerobatic training, which was outside the design capabilities of the T-41.[2][7][better source needed]

Four T-41s remained at the Air Force Academy for the USAFA Flying Team, as well as to support certain academic classes.[8]

A number of air forces, including Saudi Arabia and Singapore, purchased various civilian models of the Cessna 172 for use in military training, transport, and liaison roles. While similar to the T-41 and named as such, these aircraft were not actually T-41s from a technical standpoint and were powered by the standard 172 powerplants available in the model year purchased, including the Continental O-300 in pre-1968 aircraft and the Lycoming O-320 in later 172s.[4]

Variants

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USAF T-41A
Cessna T-41B of the Republic of Korea

Variants of the T-41 other than the T-41A were built under the type certificate of the Cessna 175 Skylark.[9][10] The 175 was a close derivative of the 172 and most parts aft of the firewall are interchangeable. The controversial Continental GO-300 engine from the civil 175 was never used in the T-41; the T-41B through D instead used the Continental IO-360. Cessna never offered a civil model directly analogous to these aircraft, but Reims Aviation in France sold similar IO-360-powered models as the R172 Rocket and Hawk XP.[10]

T-41A
United States Air Force version of the Cessna 172F, 172G, and 172H for undergraduate pilot training, powered by 145 hp Continental O-300.[4] 230 built; 170 (172F), 26 (172G), and 34 (172H).[11][a]
T-41B
United States Army version powered by a fuel-injected 210 hp (157 kW) Continental IO-360-D or -DE driving a constant-speed propeller and featuring a 28V electrical system, jettisonable doors, an openable right front window, a 6.00x6 nose wheel tire, and military avionics. The baggage door was removed. 255 built (all Model R172E).[5][6][9][11]
T-41C
USAF Academy version with a 14V electrical system, fixed-pitch propeller, civilian avionics, and only the two front seats. 52 total built; 45 as the R172E and 7 as the R172F.[5][9][11]
T-41D
Military Aid Program version with 28V electrical system, four seats, corrosion-proofing, reinforced flaps and ailerons, a baggage door, and provisions for wing-mounted pylons. 299 total built; 34 as the R172E, 74 as the R172F, 28 as the R172G, and 163 as the R172H (with extended tail fillet).[5][9][11] First T-41D delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 1968[12]

Operators

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Argentine Army Cessna T-41D Mescalero
 Angola
 Argentina
 Bolivia
 Chile
 Colombia
 Dominican Republic
 Ecuador
 El Salvador
 Greece
 Honduras
 Indonesia
 Iran
 Khmer Republic
Laos Kingdom of Laos
 Liberia
 Pakistan
 Paraguay
T-41DM of Peru
 Peru
 Philippines
 Republic of Korea
 South Vietnam
 Thailand
 Turkey
T-41D of the USAFA Flying Team
 United States
 Uruguay

Aircraft on display

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Singapore T-41 on display at museum
United States

Specifications (T-41C)

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Continental IO-360-D 6-cylinder engine

Data from Global Security[1][better source needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: three passengers
  • Length: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
  • Wing area: 159 sq ft (14.8 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,363 lb (618 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-360-D 6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 210 hp (160 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 125 kn (144 mph, 232 km/h)
  • Range: 626 nmi (720 mi, 1,159 km)
  • Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
  • Rate of climb: 880 ft/min (4.5 m/s)

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The T-41A designation was originally assigned in 1962 to a proposed United States Navy navigation trainer variant of the Grumman Gulfstream I, but the purchase was deferred and the designation was reassigned; the Grumman was subsequently ordered in 1966 and entered service as the TC-4C Acedeme.[3]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Pike, John (April 2005). "T-41A/C Mescalero". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  2. ^ a b c d United States Air Force (March 1998). "Broad Area Review of the Enhanced Flight Screening Program". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  3. ^ Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1976). United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 (2nd ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 439. ISBN 0-87021-968-5.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Taylor, John: Jane's Pocket Book of Military Transport and Training Aircraft, page 67. Macmillan Publishing Inc., 1974. Library of Congress 73-15288
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Krivinyi, Nikolaus: World Military Aviation, page 148. Arco Publishing Co, 1977. ISBN 0-668-04348-2
  6. ^ a b WarbirdFlight.Net (2007). "T-41B". Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  7. ^ Pike, John (September 2006). "T-3A Firefly". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  8. ^ USAFA. "United States Air Force Academy Aircraft". Archived from the original on 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  9. ^ a b c d Federal Aviation Administration (March 2003). "Type certificate data sheet no. 3A17" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  10. ^ a b Kinney, Scott. "Cessna Flyer Association - Big-airplane Features for a Small-airplane Price: The Cessna 175". cessnaflyer.org. Cessna Flyer Association. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Phillips, Edward H: Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III, Flying Books, 1986. ISBN 0911139052
  12. ^ Sheil/Forsgren/Little 1976, p. 76
  13. ^ Hagedorn 1993, pp. 87, 92–93.
  14. ^ "Tecnam Completes Delivery Of 12 Trainer Aircraft To The Hellenic Air Force | Tecnam". 18 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  15. ^ Schymura, Jens (June 2019). "New Greek trainers". Air International. Vol. 96, no. 6. p. 9. ISSN 0306-5634.
  16. ^ "Khmer Air Force History". aeroflight.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Paraguayan Air Force". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  18. ^ a b Araneta, Macon Ramos (August 2008). "Air Force acquires 15 planes". Archived from the original on 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  19. ^ a b Sheil/Forsgren/Little 1976, pp. 91-92
  20. ^ "World Air Forces 2013". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  21. ^ "Aircraft". Jax Navy Flying Club. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  22. ^ "Cessna T-41C | Kirtland Flight Center". Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  23. ^ Patuxent River Navy Flying Club. "Aircraft". Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  24. ^ ( Eglin Aero Club. "Aircraft". Archived from the original on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  25. ^ ( Travis Aero Club. "Aircraft/Rates". Archived from the original on 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  26. ^ ( "Aero Club Brochure" (PDF).
  27. ^ Gross, Tyler (August 25, 2010). "Construction of Vance's air park nears completion". Vance Air Force Base. Oklahoma. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Cessna T-41A Mescalero". National Museum of the US Air Force. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  29. ^ Kimberly, Wright (October 29, 2010). "OTS salutes heritage with T-41 display". Maxwell Air Force Base. Alabama. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Maxwell AFB, AL T-41 OTS Display". Warbird Information Exchange. phpBB Group. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.

Bibliography

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  • Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.
  • Shiel, Walt; Forsgren, Jan; Little, Michael (2006). T-41 Mescalero: The Military Cessna 172. Lake Linden, Michigan, USA: Slipdown Mountain Publications. ISBN 978-0-9746553-3-8.
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