Cessna 160
Encyclopedia
{
The Cessna Model 160 was an American
single-engine, four-seater, high wing, strut-braced, prototype monoplane
designed in 1962 by Cessna
.
Development beyond the prototype stage was not pursued and only one example was constructed.
would have good market potential. The company designed a simplified four-seat high-wing aircraft using non-tapering wings, extensive use of heavily-beaded wing and fuselage
skins as well as free-castering nose gear to save weight and decrease the man-hours required for construction.
The aircraft was intended to be sold for USD$
8,450, which would have been just USD$955 more than the 1962 model two-place Cessna 150B
and far below the cost of the 1962 model Cessna 172C
, which was USD$9895.
The prototype aircraft was registered as N5419E and first flew in 1962, powered by a Franklin
engine of 125 hp. The intention was to use a 145 hp Continental O-300
engine for the production model.
The aircraft was subjected to a flight test
program in 1962 and 1963. The Franklin engine gave the aircraft a top speed of 134 mph (216 km/h), while the proposed O-300 powered version was forecast to have a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). A proposed military version, tentatively designated Cessna 160M and powered by a 210 hp Continental IO-360
, would have had a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).
The flight test program showed that, while the aircraft met its goals, it did not offer enough cost advantages to proceed to production, when tooling costs were accounted for. As a result the project was abandoned.
The sole prototype Cessna 160 was retained by the company until 1974, when it was sold as scrap. The scrap yard did not complete the destruction of the airframe and it was later offered for sale.
The Cessna Model 160 was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
single-engine, four-seater, high wing, strut-braced, prototype monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
designed in 1962 by Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
.
Development beyond the prototype stage was not pursued and only one example was constructed.
Development
Cessna thought that a less expensive four-seater aircraft than the existing Cessna 172Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
would have good market potential. The company designed a simplified four-seat high-wing aircraft using non-tapering wings, extensive use of heavily-beaded wing and fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
skins as well as free-castering nose gear to save weight and decrease the man-hours required for construction.
The aircraft was intended to be sold for USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
8,450, which would have been just USD$955 more than the 1962 model two-place Cessna 150B
Cessna 150
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane, that was designed for flight training, touring and personal use.The Cessna 150 is the seventh most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced...
and far below the cost of the 1962 model Cessna 172C
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
, which was USD$9895.
The prototype aircraft was registered as N5419E and first flew in 1962, powered by a Franklin
Franklin Engine Company
The Franklin Engine Company was a manufacturer of aircraft engines, formed as the H. H. Franklin Co. in 1902, located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Barely surviving bankruptcy in 1933, the company was purchased by a group of ex-employees and renamed Aircooled Motors in 1937...
engine of 125 hp. The intention was to use a 145 hp Continental O-300
Continental O-300
|-See also:-References:...
engine for the production model.
The aircraft was subjected to a flight test
Flight test
Flight test is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops and gathers data during flight of an aircraft and then analyzes the data to evaluate the flight characteristics of the aircraft and validate its design, including safety aspects...
program in 1962 and 1963. The Franklin engine gave the aircraft a top speed of 134 mph (216 km/h), while the proposed O-300 powered version was forecast to have a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). A proposed military version, tentatively designated Cessna 160M and powered by a 210 hp Continental IO-360
Continental IO-360
The Continental IO-360 is a family of fuel-injected air-cooled, six-cylinder aircraft engines manufactured by Continental Motors in the United States of America, now part of the Teledyne corporation, since 1962....
, would have had a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).
The flight test program showed that, while the aircraft met its goals, it did not offer enough cost advantages to proceed to production, when tooling costs were accounted for. As a result the project was abandoned.
The sole prototype Cessna 160 was retained by the company until 1974, when it was sold as scrap. The scrap yard did not complete the destruction of the airframe and it was later offered for sale.