Took my first flying lessons in one of these in 1966!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_150
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane that was
designed for flight training, touring and personal use.
The Cessna 150 is the fifth most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839
aircraft produced. The Cessna 150 was offered for sale in the 150 basic model,
Commuter, Commuter II, Patroller and the aerobatic Aerobat models.
Development of the Model 150 began in the mid-1950s with the decision by Cessna
Aircraft to produce a successor to the popular Cessna 140 which finished
production in 1951. The main changes in the 150 design were the use of tricycle
landing gear, which is easier to learn to use than the tailwheel landing gear of
the Cessna 140, and replacing the rounded wingtips and horizontal and vertical
stabilizers with more modern, squared-off profiles. In addition, the narrow,
hinged wing flaps of the 140 were replaced by larger, far more effective Fowler
flaps.
All Cessna 150s have very effective flaps that extend 40 degrees.
The best-performing airplanes in the 150 and 152 fleet are the 1962 Cessna 150B
and the 1963 Cessna 150C. Thanks to their light 1,500 lb (680 kg) gross weight
and more aerodynamic rear fuselage, they climb the fastest, have the highest
ceilings, and require the shortest runways. They have a 109-knot (202 km/h)
cruise speed, faster than any other model year of either the 150 or 152.
A total of 22,138 Cessna 150s were built in the United States, including 21,404
Commuters and 734 Aerobats. Reims Aviation completed 1,764 F-150s, of which
1,428 were Commuters and 336 were Aerobats. A Reims affiliate in Argentina also
assembled 47 F-150s, including 38 Commuters and 9 Aerobats.
Of all the Cessna 150-152 models, the 1966 model year was the most plentiful
with 3,067 1966 Cessna 150s produced. This was the first year the aircraft
featured a swept tail fin, increased baggage area and electrically operated
flaps.
Role
Multipurpose civil aircraft
Manufacturer
Cessna
First flight
September 12, 1957
Produced
Number built
23,949
Unit cost
US$12,000-25,000 (2007)
Variants
Cessna 152
In 2007 Cessna announced the two-seat successor to the Model 150 and 152, the
Model 162 Skycatcher (see pic).
The Cessna 150 is simple, robust, and easy to fly. For these reasons it has
become one of the world's most popular basic trainers.
Cockpit visibility is generally good other than directly above the aircraft,
where the view is blocked by the wing. This obstruction is of particular concern
when, as is the case with most high-wing aircraft, the inside-turn wing blocks
vision in the direction of a turn. As a partial remedy to this some 150s,
including all Aerobats, feature a pair of overhead skylights.
Specifications (1976 Commuter II)
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (+ two children not exceeding 120 lb (54 kg))
Length: 23 ft 11 in (7.29 m)
Wingspan: 33 ft 2 in (10.11 m)
Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m2)
Empty weight: 1,122 lb (509 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,600 lb (726 kg)
hp (75 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph; 202 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 82 kn (94 mph; 152 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) (econ cruise)
Stall speed: 42 kn (48 mph; 78 km/h) (flaps down, power off)
Never exceed speed: 140 kn (161 mph; 259 km/h)
Range: 420 nmi (483 mi; 778 km) (econ cruise, standard fuel)
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Rate of climb: 670 ft/min (3.4 m/s)
Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 1,385 ft (422 m)
Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,075 ft (328 m)
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