Cessna
Cessna 140
The Cessna Model 140 is a two‑seat, single‑engine light aircraft produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1951. Designed as a post‑war successor to the wartime Model 140A and the pre‑war Model 120, it introduced a more powerful 85‑horsepower Continental C‑85 engine, a strengthened steel tube fuselage, and a 28‑foot wingspan with a semi‑tapered wooden wing. Over 2,200 units were built, making the 140 one of the most popular training and personal‑use airplanes of the era.
Key features include dual flight controls, a simple high‑wing configuration that offers excellent visibility, and a fixed tailwheel landing gear that simplifies maintenance. The aircraft’s modest cruise speed of about 100 knots, gentle stall characteristics, and forgiving handling earned it a reputation as an ideal platform for flight schools and private pilots learning basic airmanship.
The 140’s significance lies in its role in democratizing aviation after World War II. It provided affordable, reliable access to the skies for a generation of pilots, contributed to the growth of general aviation, and set design precedents later refined in the iconic Cessna 150/152 series, and continued to inspire future designs.
Key features include dual flight controls, a simple high‑wing configuration that offers excellent visibility, and a fixed tailwheel landing gear that simplifies maintenance. The aircraft’s modest cruise speed of about 100 knots, gentle stall characteristics, and forgiving handling earned it a reputation as an ideal platform for flight schools and private pilots learning basic airmanship.
The 140’s significance lies in its role in democratizing aviation after World War II. It provided affordable, reliable access to the skies for a generation of pilots, contributed to the growth of general aviation, and set design precedents later refined in the iconic Cessna 150/152 series, and continued to inspire future designs.
