Cessna 140
Single-engine two-seat high-wing light cabin monoplane, USA

Archive Photos ¹

1946 Cessna 140 (N76496, s/n 10926) at the 2009 Cable Air Show, Cable Airport, Upland, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1946 Cessna 140 (N326DW, s/n 11220) at the 2006 Camarillo Air Show, Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1946 Cessna 140 (N77275, s/n 11488) at the 2006 Camarillo Air Show, Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1947 Cessna 140 (N4151N, s/n 13873) at the 2006 Camarillo Air Show, Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1948 Cessna 140 (N3555V, s/n 14830) at the 2006 Camarillo Air Show, Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1948 Cessna 140 (N3654V) at the 1995 Hawthorne Air Faire, Hawthorne, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1948 Cessna 140 (N7G) at the MCAS El Toro Airshow (Photos by John Shupek)

1950 Cessna 140A (N9651A) at the 1999 Camarillo Airshow, Camarillo Airport (KCMA), Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1951 Cessna 140A (N1161D, s/n 15724) at the 2006 Camarillo Air Show, Camarillo, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

Cessna 140 Series Overview ²

• Cessna 140
• Role: Light utility aircraft
• Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company
• Introduced: 1946
• Produced: 1946-1950
• Number built: 7,664
• Unit cost: USD $3495 (Cessna 140 in 1946)

The Cessna 120 and the Cessna 140 are single engine, two-seat, 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 a tricycle gear. The Cessna 120 and the Cessna 140, together, sold 7,664 copies in the five years that the aircraft were produced.

Development ¹

Cessna 140

The Cessna 140 was originally equipped with an 85 or 90 horsepower (63 or 67 kW) Continental horizontally-opposed, aircooled, four-cylinder piston engine. 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.

Cessna 140A

The final variant of the Cessna 140 introduced in 1949 was the 140A which had a standard Continental C90 engine producing 90-hp (67 kW), aluminum covered wings and a single strut replacing the dual "V" struts and jury struts fitted on earlier models.

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 did not have wing flaps. The cabin "D" side windows and electrical system (radios, lights, battery and starter) were optional.

Modifications ¹

• 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.
• 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.
• Installation of rear-cabin "D" side windows on 120s that were not originally so equipped; some pilots feel that the 120’s visibility to the rear is inadequate without them.
• 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.

1951 Cessna 140 Specifications ¹

General Characteristics:

Type

• Two-seat Cabin monoplane.

Wings

• Strut-braced high-wing monoplane.
• Two-spar constant-chord structure of 24ST aluminum-alloy in two main sections.
• Detachable tips in two sections each side.
• All-metal spars, ribs and leading-edge, with metal covering.
• Wing braced to fuselage by single steel-tube strut each side.
• All-metal ailerons with metal covering.
• All-metal manually-operated trailing-edge flaps inboard of ailerons.
• Wing area, gross: 159.6 ft² (14.8 m²)

Fuselage

• Monocoque structure of 24ST aluminum-alloy.

Tail Unit

• Cantilever monoplane type.
• Metal structure with metal covering over all surfaces.
• Trim-tab in starboard elevator.
• Tailplane span: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m).

Landing Gear

• Cessna patented fixed two-wheel type consisting of two flexing steel cantilever legs carrying wheels.
• Hydraulic friction-disc brakes.
• Track: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
• Scott steerable tail-wheel.
• Alternatively twin Edo Model 1650 floats may be fitted.

Power Plant

• One 85-hp or 90-hp Continental four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine driving McCauley fixed-pitch metal airscrew.
• Fuel capacity 25 U.S. gallons (94 liters) in two tanks, one in each wing root.

Accommodation

• Enclosed cabin seating two side-by-side with dual controls.
• Entry doors on, both sides.
• Baggage compartment behind seats; allowance 80 lb (36 kg).

Dimensions

• Span: 32 ft. 10 in. (10 m.)
• Length (tail up): 20 ft 11⅞ in (6.40 m).
• Height (tail down, over wing): 6 ft 3¼ in (1.91 m)

Weights and Loadings (85-hp Continental)

• Weight empty: 900 lb (409 kg)
• Weight loaded: 1,500 lb. (680 kg)
• Wing loading (fully loaded): 9.75 lb/ft² (47.5 kg/m²)
• Power loading: 17.6 lb/hp. (8.0 kg/hp)

Weight and Loadings (90-hp Continental)

• Weight empty: 900 lb (409 kg)
• Weight loaded: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
• Wing loading (fully loaded): 9.75 lb/ft² (47.5 kg/m²)
• Power loading: 16.7 lb/hp (7.6 kg/hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: over 120 mph (193 km/h)
• Cruising speed: over 105 mph (168 km/h)
• Landing speed: 41 mph (66 km/h)
• Rate of climb at sea level: 680 fpm (207 mpm)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,724 m)
• Cruising range: 450 miles (724 km)

Performance (90-hp Continental)

• Maximum speed: over 125 mph (203 km/h)
• Cruising speed: over 110 mph (176 km/h)
• Initial rate of climb: 690 fpm (210 mpm)
• Service ceiling: 15,600 ft (4,760 m)

References

1. Shupek, John. Photos by John Shupek, Copyright © 2009 Skytamer Images (Skytamer.com). All Rights Reserved
2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Cessna 140
3. Bridgman, Leonard. Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1950-51. London, Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1951, p 211c.