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Cessna T-41 Mescalero

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The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft.[1][2]

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
History
Manufactured1964–1996
Introduction date1964
Developed fromCessna 172
Cessna 175 Skylark

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]

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 Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.[1][2]

In 1996, the aircraft were further upgraded to the T-41D, which included an upgrade in avionics[1] 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. The T-3A fleet was indefinitely grounded in 1997 and scrapped in 2006 following a series of fatal accidents at the US Air Force Academy.[2][7]

The USAF now trains all its prospective pilots and combat systems officers through a civilian contract with DOSS Aviation known as initial military flight screening, which makes use of the Diamond DA20. This program is conducted for USAF line officer accession programs (e.g., USAFA, AFROTC, and OTS), with said training taking place after these officers have been commissioned as second lieutenants. It is also conducted for USAF officers at the first lieutenant and captain level selected for flight training after an assignment as a non-aeronautically rated officer.[8]

Four T-41s remain at the Air Force Academy for the USAFA Flying Team, as well as to support certain academic classes.[9]

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, these aircraft were not T-41s and were powered by the standard 172 powerplants available in the model year purchased. These included the 145 hp (108 kW) Continental O-300 in pre-1968 aircraft and the 150 and 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320 in later 172s.[4]

Variants

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Argentine Army Cessna T-41D Mescalero

With the exception of the T-41A, most variants of the T-41 were certified under the Cessna 175 Skylark type certification.[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][10][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][10][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][10][11] First T-41D delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 1968[12]

Operators

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USAF T-41A
 
Cessna T-41B of the Republic of Korea
  Angola
  Argentina
  Bolivia
  Chile
  Colombia
  Dominican Republic
  Ecuador
  El Salvador
  Greece
  Honduras
  Indonesia
  Iran
  Khmer Republic
  Kingdom of Laos
  Liberia
  Pakistan
  Paraguay
  Peru
  Philippines
  Republic of Korea
  South Vietnam
  Thailand
  Turkey
  United States
  Uruguay

Aircraft on display

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United States

Specifications (T-41C)

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Data from Global Security[1]

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. ^ DOSS Aviation (2007). "About Doss IFS". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  9. ^ USAFA. "United States Air Force Academy Aircraft". Archived from the original on 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  10. ^ 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.
  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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