Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Two-seat light cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 63 kw (85 hp) Continental C-85-12 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

During the years 1946 to 1949 Cessna produced two basically identical two-seat light cabin monoplanes known as the Models 120 and 140. With side-by-side seating in both, the Model 140 had a number of refinements, including a starter, generator and battery, and manually operated plain-hinge flaps. The prototype 140 was flown for the first time on 28 June 1945, being powered by a Continental C-85-12 engine, three prototypes in fact being built.

The aircraft was first shown to the public at the National Aircraft Show at Cleveland, Ohio in November 1946 and immediately became very popular, with its basic all-metal construction and more power than the opposition. Two models were built, the 120 being a basic model, and the 140 being the ‘deluxe’ model. In the event, the latter was the best seller, selling three to each Model 120. Subsequently 4,904 production aircraft were built from May 1946 to April 1949, when the Model 140A replaced the Model 140 on the production line. The Model 140 had the 63 kw (85 hp) C-85-12 engine, but in 1948 the C-90-12 engine was introduced.

The Model 140A was a refined Model 140, having an all-metal wing in place of the fabric covered wing with metal flaps and ailerons on the Model 140. Total production of the Model 140A was 525 aircraft, 401 of these having the 67 kw (90 hp) C-90-12F engine, and the remaining 124 having the C-85-12F or –14F. The type was very popular with the sportsman-pilot. It was produced by Cessna Aircraft Corporation at its Wichita, Kansas plant and a small number were fitted with Edo 1650 floats.

A number of examples have been seen in this region. In 1963 NN89149 (c/n 8157) arrived at Jackson’s Strip in Port Moresby, PNG being owned by Father Patrick of the Catholic Mission on Manus Island where it operated as a floatplane. It was to become VH-ABJ but, due to extensive corrosion, the registration was not taken up and it is believed to have been scrapped.

In later years, with the upsurge in interest in antique aircraft, a number of Cessna 120s and 140s have been imported to this region. Aircraft of this series have included: Cessna 120s VH-NNW (c/n 13579) registered on 25 March 1991; 24-7934 (c/n 14204) registered on 24 August 2011 and 24-8085 (c/n 11857 – ex NN77416) and registered on 24 February 2012 under RAA regulations.

New Zealand examples have included: ZK-XTX (c/n 11759 – ex N77317, NC7737) registered on 22 November 2013 and ZK-FFK (c/n 11102 – ex N7662, NC7662) built in 1946, which suffered a landing accident on 17 November 1999 and later became ZK-BFK².

Cessna 140s ha e included: VH-TMO (c/n 14852) registered on 27 January 2011; VH-KXN (c/n 14668) registered on 24 September 2014; VH-LIB (c/n 13436) registered on 30 May 1989; VH-NCN (c/n 13120) registered on 24 March 1988; VH-NDZ (c/n 12450) registered on 4 May 1992; VH-YBY (c/n 11437) registered on 7 April 2009; VH-DFQ (c/n 8394) registered on 28 June 2011; VH-COO (c/n 10901) registered on 9 November 1992; VH-OFO (c/n 10901) registered on 28 October 2013; VH-ZBP (c/n 10948) registered on 5 February 1992 and VH-WKG (c/n 10071 – ex N72877, NC72877) which, for a period became 24-8525 when registered with the RAA before being re-registered VH-MMG.