Cessna 140

The Cessna 140 was originally equipped with a Continental C-85-12 or C-85-12F horizontally opposed, air-cooled, four-cylinder piston engine of 85 hp (63 kW). The Continental C-90-12F or C-90-14F of 90 hp (67 kW) was optional, as was the 108 hp (81 kW) Lycoming O-235-C1 engine, an aftermarket installation authorized in the type certificate. This model had a metal fuselage and fabric wings with metal control surfaces. The larger Cessna 170 was a four-seat 140 with a more powerful engine.^[2][3][4]

The Cessna 120 was an economy version of the 140 produced at the same time. It had the same engine as the 140, but lacked wing flaps. The rear-cabin "D" side windows and electrical system (radios, lights, battery and starter) were optional.^[2][3][4] A 120 outfitted with every factory option would be nearly equivalent to a 140, but the International Cessna 120/140 Association believes that no 120s were originally built this way. Despite this, many decades' worth of owner-added options have rendered many 120s almost indistinguishable from a 140 aside from the absence of wing flaps.^[5] The 120 was dropped from production upon introduction of the 140A in 1949.^[5]

In 1949, Cessna introduced the 140A, a new variant with aluminum-covered wings and single wing struts instead of the fabric wing covering, dual "V" struts, and jury struts fitted on earlier models. Standard engines were the Continental C-90-12F or C-90-14F of 90 hp (67 kW), with the 85 hp (63 kW) Continental C-85-12, C-85-12F, or C-85-14F engines optional. The spring-steel gear had been swept 3 in (8 cm) forward on 120 and 140 models in late 1947 so landing gear extenders were no longer necessary to counter nose-over tendencies during heavy application of brakes; all 140A models had the improved gear legs.^{[2][3][6][7][8]} Despite these improvements, sales of the 140 lineup faltered, and the 140A comprised only seven percent of overall 120/140 production.^[5]

Common modifications to the Cessna 120 and 140 include:

• "Metalized" wings, where the fabric is replaced with light-gauge sheet aluminum, eliminating the need to periodically replace the wing fabric.^[2][5]
• The installation of landing gear extenders to reduce the tendency of the aircraft to nose over on application of heavy braking. These were factory-optional equipment.^[5][9]
• Installation of rear-cabin "D" side windows on 120s that were not originally so equipped.^[5]
• Installation of electrical systems on 120s that were not originally so equipped, allowing owners to install an electric starter, more sophisticated avionics and/or lights for night flying.^[2][5]
• Installation of a more powerful engine. A popular conversion today is to replace the original C-85 or C-90 with a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200. A kit is available to install a Lycoming O-320 but this conversion is less prevalent due to a roughly 100 lb (45 kg) weight penalty and a sharp increase in fuel consumption.^[5]

  Guatemala

• Guatemalan Air Force^[10]

  Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan Air Force^[11]

Data from The Complete Guide to the Single-Engine Cessnas,^[2] AOPA Pilot,^[5] and Aircraft Specification No. A-768.^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
• Wing area: 159.3 sq ft (14.80 m²)
• Empty weight: 890 lb (404 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 25 US gallons (95 liters), of which 21 US gallons (79.5 liters) are useable
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-85 four cylinder, four stroke, horizontally opposed aircraft engine, 85 hp (63 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed Sensenich^[5]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
• Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
• Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) flaps down
• Never exceed speed: 140 mph (230 km/h, 120 kn)
• Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 680 ft/min (3.5 m/s)
• Wing loading: 9.1 lb/sq ft (44 kg/m²)

• 1945 in aviation (first flight)

Related development

• Cessna 150
• Cessna 170

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Aeronca Chief
• ERCO Ercoupe
• Fleet Canuck
• Luscombe 8
• Taylorcraft B
• Piper Vagabond

• Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.

• AVweb's Cessna 120/140 Review, an extensive article on the history and features of the type