Cessna
Cessna C-106 Loadmaster
The Cessna C‑106 Loadmaster was a modest but noteworthy cargo aircraft produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company in the early 1940s. Developed as a military variant of the popular C‑97 business plane, the Loadmaster first flew in 1942 and was intended to meet the U.S. Army Air Forces’ demand for a rugged, short‑field transport capable of hauling supplies, ammunition, and parachute drops to forward bases. Powered by a single 225‑horsepower Continental O‑300 engine, the high‑wing monoplane featured a reinforced steel tube fuselage, a spacious cargo compartment with removable side panels, and a rear loading ramp that allowed rapid loading and unloading of pallets and crates. Its fixed tailwheel landing gear and simple, all‑metal construction provided durability on unimproved airstrips. Although only a small production run of 42 airframes was completed before the program was cancelled in 1944, the C‑106 demonstrated Cessna’s ability to adapt civilian designs for wartime logistics. The aircraft’s design philosophy—emphasizing ease of maintenance, low operating cost, and versatile cargo handling—foreshadowed later utility models such as the C‑180 and the modern C‑208 Caravan, leaving a lasting imprint on light transport aviation.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1943
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Cessna
- Wikidata ID
- Q3665639