Cessna T-41 Mescalero Explained

The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated 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 (USAF) decided to use the commercial off-the-shelf Cessna 172F 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 Spring, Texas, in August 1965.[1] [2]

The T-41B was the US Army version, with a 210hp Continental IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller in place of the 145hp Continental O-300 and 7654 fixed-pitch propeller used in the 172 and the T-41A.[3] [4] [5]

In 1968, the USAF acquired 52 of the more powerful T-41Cs, which used 210hp Continental IO-360 and a fixed-pitch climb propeller, for use at the Air Force Academy 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 USAF replaced many 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 US Air Force Academy.[2] [6]

The USAF now trains all its prospective pilots and combat systems officers through a civilian contract with DOSS Aviation known as initial military flight screening, which makes use of the Diamond DA20. This program is conducted for USAF line officer accession programs (e.g., USAFA, AFROTC, and OTS), with said training taking place after these officers have been commissioned as second lieutenants. It is also conducted for USAF officers at the first lieutenant and captain level selected for flight training after an assignment as a non-aeronautically rated officer.[7]

Four T-41s remain at the Air Force Academy for the USAFA Flying Team, as well as to support certain academic classes.[8]

A number of air forces, including Saudi Arabia and Singapore, purchased various civilian models of the Cessna 172 for use in 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 145hp Continental O-300 in pre-1968 aircraft and the 150 and 160hp Lycoming O-320 in later 172s.[3]

Variants

With the exception of the T-41A, most variants of the T-41 were certified under the Cessna 175 Skylark type certification.[9]

T-41A
  • United States Air Force version of the Cessna 172F, 172G, and 172H for undergraduate pilot training, powered by 145 hp Continental O-300. 230 built; 170 (172F), 26 (172G), and 34 (172H).
    T-41B
  • United States Army version powered by a fuel-injected 2100NaN0 Continental IO-360-D or -DE driving a constant-speed propeller and featuring a 28V electrical system, jettisonable doors, an openable right front window, a 6.00x6 nose wheel tire, and military avionics. The baggage door was removed. 255 built (all Model R172E).[10]
    T-41C
  • USAF Academy version with a 14V electrical system, fixed-pitch propeller, civilian avionics, and only the two front seats. 52 total built; 45 as the R172E and 7 as the R172F.
    T-41D
  • Military Aid Program version with 28V electrical system, four seats, corrosion-proofing, reinforced flaps and ailerons, a baggage door, and provisions for wing-mounted pylons. 299 total built; 34 as the R172E, 74 as the R172F, 28 as the R172G, and 163 as the R172H (with extended tail fillet). First T-41D delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 1968[11]

    Operators

    Kingdom of Laos

    Aircraft on display

    United States

    References

    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: T-41A/C Mescalero. 2008-05-13. Pike. John. April 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20080514113909/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-41.htm. 2008-05-14. live.
    2. Web site: Broad Area Review of the Enhanced Flight Screening Program . 2008-05-13 . United States Air Force . United States Air Force . March 1998 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080411071652/http://www.af.mil/library/posture/t3bar.asp . 2008-04-11 . dead .
    3. Taylor, John: Jane's Pocket Book of Military Transport and Training Aircraft, page 67. Macmillan Publishing Inc., 1974. Library of Congress 73-15288
    4. Krivinyi, Nikolaus: World Military Aviation, page 148. Arco Publishing Co, 1977.
    5. Web site: T-41B. 2008-05-13. WarbirdFlight.Net. 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090821062509/http://warbirdflight.net/The%20T-41B.html. 2009-08-21.
    6. Web site: T-3A Firefly. 2008-05-13. Pike. John. September 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20080514114219/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-3.htm. 2008-05-14. live.
    7. Web site: About Doss IFS. 2008-05-13. DOSS Aviation. 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20080706162553/http://www.dossifs.com/. 2008-07-06. dead.
    8. Web site: United States Air Force Academy Aircraft. 2008-05-13. USAFA. https://web.archive.org/web/20080405195441/http://www.usafa.edu/flash/aircraftViewer/index.htm. 2008-04-05. live.
    9. Web site: . March 2003 . Type certificate data sheet no. 3A17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608055447/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/eb424056528d21d8862572de0072869f/$FILE/3A17.pdf . 2011-06-08 . 2024-06-06.
    10. Phillips, Edward H: Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III, Flying Books, 1986.
    11. Sheil/Forsgren/Little 1976, p. 76
    12. Hagedorn 1993, pp. 87, 92–93.
    13. Web site: Tecnam Completes Delivery Of 12 Trainer Aircraft To The Hellenic Air Force Tecnam . 28 October 2019 . 18 June 2019 . 28 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191028235718/https://www.tecnam.com/gb/news-gb/tecnam-completes-delivery-of-12-trainer-aircraft-to-the-hellenic-air-force/ . dead .
    14. Schymura . Jens . New Greek trainers . . June 2019 . 96 . 6 . 9 . 0306-5634.
    15. Web site: Khmer Air Force History. aeroflight.co.uk. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113948/http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-eastasia/cambodia/cam-af-history2.htm. 4 March 2016. live.
    16. Web site: Paraguayan Air Force. aeroflight.co.uk . 18 January 2021.
    17. Web site: Air Force acquires 15 planes. 2008-09-15. Araneta. Macon Ramos. August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090415193017/http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics1_aug15_2008. 2009-04-15. live.
    18. Sheil/Forsgren/Little 1976, pp. 91-92
    19. Web site: World Air Forces 2013 . 2014-04-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102174152/http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/world-air-forces-2013-101015.aspx . 2013-11-02 . live .
    20. Web site: Aircraft . Jax Navy Flying Club . 2012-11-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121007010442/http://www.jaxnfc.net/index_Page374.htm . 2012-10-07 .
    21. Web site: Cessna T-41C | Kirtland Flight Center. 2017-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112307/http://kirtlandflightcenter.org/?page_id=151. 2017-12-28. live.
    22. Web site: Aircraft . 2009-08-05 . Patuxent River Navy Flying Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090404054915/http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/flyingclub/aircraft2.htm . April 4, 2009 .
    23. (Web site: Aircraft. Eglin Aero Club. 2011-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20100925045615/http://www.eglinaeroclub.com/aircraft.aspx. 2010-09-25. live.
    24. (Web site: Aircraft/Rates. Travis Aero Club. 2011-04-30. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110425161702/http://www.travisaeroclub.com/index_files/aircraft.htm. 2011-04-25.
    25. (Web site: Aero Club Brochure.
    26. Web site: Gross. Tyler. Construction of Vance's air park nears completion. Vance Air Force Base. 30 August 2016. Oklahoma. August 25, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914162555/http://www.vance.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/3156/Article/370827/construction-of-vances-air-park-nears-completion.aspx. 14 September 2016. live.
    27. Web site: Cessna T-41A Mescalero. National Museum of the US Air Force. 30 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161122185939/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/198032/cessna-t-41a-mescalero.aspx. 22 November 2016. live.
    28. Web site: Kimberly. Wright. OTS salutes heritage with T-41 display. Maxwell Air Force Base. 30 August 2016. Alabama. October 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914212803/http://www.maxwell.af.mil/News/Display/tabid/10067/Article/420761/ots-salutes-heritage-with-t-41-display.aspx. 14 September 2016. live.
    29. Web site: Maxwell AFB, AL T-41 OTS Display. Warbird Information Exchange. phpBB Group. 30 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160922190618/http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=449765. 22 September 2016. live.

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