Photograph:
Cessna 152 VH-XSR (c/n 15280668) at Bankstown, NSW in May 2006 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light touring and training aircraft
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) Continental O-235-L2C four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.97 m (32 ft 8½ in)
- Length: 7.34 m (24 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 14.6 m² (157 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 204 km/h (127 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 2,438 m (8,000 ft): 198 km/h (123 mph)
- Service ceiling: 4,480 m (14,700 ft)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 218 m/min (678 ft/min)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Range at 198 km/h (123 mph) at 2,438 m (8,000 ft) with 93 litres (20.3 Imp gals) fuel: 648 km (403 miles)
- Empty weight: 500 kg (1,101 lb)
- Loaded weight: 757 kg (1,670 lb)
History:
The Model 152 was introduced to the Cessna range in 1978 as a re-design of the Model 150 and was, like its competitors the Beech Skipper and Piper Tomahawk, aimed at the training market as a new design. Gross weight was increased to 757 kg (1,670 lb) to give an increase in the useful load. It was built at the Cessna facility at Wichita, Kansas, and also by Reims Aviation in France. By mid 1985 production of the Aerobat had concluded, and production of the Model 152 was suspended. At that time production had reached 7,584 examples of the Model 152 and Aerobat in the United States and France.
All Model 152s produced in the United States between 1977 and 1982 had the Lycoming O-235-L2C engine which produced 82 kw (110 hp) but this unit had some problems in service and, in 1983, was replaced by the O-235-N2C which had re-designed pistons and combustion chambers. This unit continued to be installed up until production concluded. There were not a great many changes in the Model 152 during its production life but one was the Model 152 II with upgraded avionics and trim, the Model 152T being a basic model for flying schools, and the A152 Aerobat which was certified for +6G and -3G, had removable seat cushions to permit parachutes to be worn, and had some aerobatic capability.
Like the Model 150, the Model 152 is of all-metal construction built primarily of aluminium 2024T3 alloy. It was of semi-monocoque structure with vertical bulkheads and frames joined by longerons. The skin was riveted to the framework and the wings were strut braced. Dual controls were optional, and it was fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage. After-market companies developed modifications for the type, one being a tailwheel undercarriage, and this has become known as the Texas Tail Dragger. Another modification included changes to the wings to permit STOL operations.
More than 200 Model 152s have been registered in Australasia.