Cessna 140

120 & 140
Cessna 140
Role	Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Cessna Aircraft Company
Introduction	1946
Produced	1946-1950
Number built	7,664
Unit cost	US$3495 (Cessna 140 in 1946)[1]

The Cessna 120 and the Cessna 140 are single engine, two-seat, conventional landing gear, light general aviation aircraft that were first produced in 1946, immediately following the end of World War II. Production ended in 1950, and was succeeded by the Cessna 150, a similar two-seat trainer which introduced tricycle gear. Combined production of both aircraft was 7,664 units in five years.^[1][2]

Development

Cessna 140

The Cessna 140 was originally equipped with an Continental C-85-12 or C-85-12F horizontally-opposed, aircooled, four-cylinder piston engine of 85 hp (63 kW). The Continental C-90-12F or C-90-14F of 90 hp (67 kW) was optional, as was the 108 hp (81 kW) Lycoming O-235-C1 engine, an after-market installation authorized in the type certificate. This model has a metal fuselage and fabric wings with metal control surfaces. The larger Cessna 170 was a four seat 140 with a more powerful engine.^[1][2][3]

Cessna 120

The Cessna 120 was an economy version of the 140 produced at the same time. It had the same engine as the 140 but lacked wing flaps. The rear-cabin "D" side windows and electrical system (radios, lights, battery and starter) were optional.^[1][2][3] A 120 outfitted with every factory option would be nearly equivalent to a 140, but the International Cessna 120/140 Association believes that no 120s were originally built this way. Despite this, many decades' worth of owner-added options have rendered many 120s almost indistinguishable from a 140 aside from the absence of wing flaps. The 120 was dropped from production upon introduction of the 140A in 1949.^[4]

Cessna 140A

In 1949, Cessna introduced the 140A, a new variant with aluminum-covered wings and single wing struts instead of the fabric wing covering and dual "V" struts and jury struts fitted on earlier models. Standard engines were the Continental C-90-12F or C-90-14F of 90 hp (67 kW), with the 85 hp (63 kW) Continental C-85-12, C-18-12F, or C-18-14F engines optional. The spring steel gear was moved 4 inches forward, so wheel extenders were no longer necessary to counter nose over tendencies during heavy application of brakes.^[1][2][5][6] Despite these improvements, sales of the 140 lineup faltered, and the 140A comprised only 7 percent of overall 120/140 production.^[4]

Modifications

Common modifications to the Cessna 120 and 140 include:

• "Metalized" wings, where the fabric is replaced with sheet aluminum, eliminating the need to periodically replace the wing fabric.^[1][4]
• The installation of landing gear extenders to reduce the tendency of the aircraft to nose-over on application of heavy braking. These were factory-optional equipment.^[4][7]
• Installation of rear-cabin "D" side windows on 120s that were not originally so equipped.^[4]
• Installation of electrical systems on 120s that were not originally so equipped, allowing owners to install an electric starter, more sophisticated avionics and/or lights for night flying.^[1][4]
• Installation of a more powerful engine. A popular conversion today is to replace the original C-85 or C-90 with a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200. A kit is available to install a Lycoming O-320 but this conversion is less prevalent due to a roughly 100 lb (45 kg) weight penalty and a sharp increase in fuel consumption.^[4]

Specifications (Cessna 140)

Data from The Complete Guide to the Single-Engine Cessnas^[1] and AOPA Pilot^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
• Wing area: 159.3 sq ft (14.80 m²)
• Empty weight: 890 lb (404 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 25 US gallons (95 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-85 four cylinder, four stroke, horizontally opposed aircraft engine, 85 hp (63 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed Sensenich^[4]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h; 109 kn)
• Cruise speed: 105 mph (91 kn; 169 km/h)
• Stall speed: 45 mph (39 kn; 72 km/h) flaps down
• Never exceed speed: 161 mph (140 kn; 259 km/h)
• Range: 450 mi (391 nmi; 724 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,724 m)
• Rate of climb: 680 ft/min (3.5 m/s)
• Wing loading: 9.1 lb/sq ft (44 kg/m²)

References

See also

Related development

• Cessna 150
• Cessna 170
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Aeronca Chief
• ERCO Ercoupe
• Fleet Canuck
• Luscombe 8
• Piper Vagabond