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T-41 Mescalero
USAF T-41D
The T-41 Mescalero
Role Primary pilot trainer
National origin United States
Manufacturer Cessna
Introduction 1964
Status In limited service
Primary users United States Air Force
United States Army
Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Army
Produced 1964-1996
Developed from Cessna 172

The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172 used 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]

Design and development[]

In 1964, the US Air Force decided to use the off-the-shelf Cessna 172 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 The first USAF class (67-A) of students began training on the T-41 from the civilian airport in Big Springs, TX in August 1965. .[1][2] The T-41B was the US Army version, with a 210 hp (160 kW) Continental IO-360 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.[3][4][5]

In 1968, the US Air Force acquired 52 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 (USAFA) 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 United States Air Force replaced much 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 United States Air Force Academy.[2][6] The Air Force now trains through a civilian contract with DOSS Aviation known as Initial Military Flight Screening which makes use of the Diamond DA20.[7] Three T-41s remain at the Air Force Academy in order to support certain academic classes as well as the USAFA Flying Team.[8]

A number of air forces, including Saudi Arabia and Singapore, purchased various civilian models of the Cessna 172 for use in the 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.[3]

Variants[]

T-41A
United States Air Force version of the Cessna 172F for undergraduate pilot training, powered by 145 hp Continental O-300,[3] 211 built.
T-41B
United States Army version of the Cessna R172E for training and liaison duties, powered by 210 hp Continental IO-360,[4] 255 built.[5]
T-41C
A version of the T-41B for use by the USAF Academy, powered by 210 hp Continental IO-360,[4] 52 built.
T-41D
A version of the T-41B for export under the Military Aid Program with 28V electrical system and simplified equipment, powered by 210 hp Continental IO-360,[4] 238 built.

Operators[]

Flag of Angola Angola
Flag of Argentina Argentina
Flag of Bolivia Bolivia
Flag of Chile Chile
Flag of Colombia Colombia
Flag of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador
Flag of Greece Greece
Flag of Honduras Honduras
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia
Flag of Iran Iran
Flag of Laos Laos
  • Royal Laotian Air Force (T-41B, T-41D)[4]
Flag of Liberia Liberia
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay
  • Paraguayan Air Force (5× T-41B)
Flag of Peru Peru
Flag of the Philippines Philippines
Flag of South Korea Republic of Korea
Flag of South Vietnam South Vietnam
Flag of Thailand Thailand
Flag of Turkey Turkey
United States
  • United States Army (255× T-41B)[3]
  • United States Air Force (211× T-41A and 52× T-41C)[3]
  • Fort Meade Flying Activity - 3 T-41C (all 3 currently airworthy)[10]
  • Jacksonville Navy Flying Club - 2 T-41A, 1 T-41B (two currently airworthy)[11]
  • Kirtland AFB Aeroclub - 5 T-41C (all 5 currently airworthy)[12]
  • Patuxent River Navy Flying Club - 3 T-41C (1 currently airworthy)[13]
  • Eglin AFB Aeroclub - 2 T-41A, 1 T-41B (1 T-41A and 1 T-41B currently airworthy)[14]
  • Travis AFB Aero Club - 1 T-41C (currently airworthy)[15]
Flag of Uruguay Uruguay

Aircraft on display[]

United States

Specifications (T-41C)[]

Data from Global Security[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Length: 26 ft 11 in (8.21 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
  • Wing area: 159 ft² (14.8 m²)
  • Empty weight: 1,363 lb (618 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-360-D, 210 hp (160 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 125 knots (144 mph, 232 km/h)
  • Range: 626 nm (720 mi, 1,159 km)
  • Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,180 m)
  • Rate of climb: 880 ft/min (4.47 m/s)

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Pike, John (April 2005). "T-41A/C Mescalero". http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-41.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 United States Air Force (March 1998). "Broad Area Review of the Enhanced Flight Screening Program". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080411071652/http://www.af.mil/library/posture/t3bar.asp. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Taylor, John: Jane's Pocket Book of Military Transport and Training Aircraft, page 67. MacMillian Publishing Inc, 1974. Library of Congress 73-15288
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 Krivinyi, Nikolaus: World Military Aviation, page 148. Arco Publishing Co, 1977. ISBN 0-668-04348-2
  5. 5.0 5.1 WarbirdFlight.Net (2007). "T-41B". http://warbirdflight.net/The%20T-41B.html. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  6. Pike, John (September 2006). "T-3A Firefly". http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-3.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  7. DOSS Aviation (2007). "About Doss IFS". http://www.dossifs.com/. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  8. USAFA (undated). "United States Air Force Academy Aircraft". http://www.usafa.edu/flash/aircraftViewer/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 Araneta, Macon Ramos (August 2008). "Air Force acquires 15 planes". http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics1_aug15_2008. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
  10. Niles, Rick (undated). "Our Fleet". http://www.fmfa.org/planes_starter.html. Retrieved 2009-06-15. 
  11. "Aircraft". Jax Navy Flying Club. http://www.jaxnfc.net/index_Page374.htm. Retrieved 2012-11-05. 
  12. "Kirtland Flight Center Aircraft". http://kirtlandflightcenter.org/club/planes.html#t41. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
  13. Patuxent River Navy Flying Club (undated). "Aircraft". http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/flyingclub/Aircraft2.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-05. [dead link]
  14. ( Eglin Aero Club (undated). "Aircraft". http://www.eglinaeroclub.com/Aircraft.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  15. ( Travis Aero Club (undated). "Aircraft/Rates". http://www.travisaeroclub.com/index_files/aircraft.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-30. 
  16. Lone Star Flight Museum (2009). "T-41 Mescalero Photo Gallery". http://www.lonestarflight.org/t41mescalero/index.html. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
  17. Vance Air Force Base (16 August 2010). "Construction of Vance's air park nears completion". http://www.vance.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123219237. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 

External links[]

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