Cessna T-41 Mescalero

Trainer / Liaison / Light Transport Aircraft (1964)

Aviation / Aerospace

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Image from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

The Cessna T-41 Mescalero was nothing more than a military adoption of the popular and commercially successful Cessna Model 172 product.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/25/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Because of the intricacies involved in training on jet aircraft, the United States Air Force adopted the Cessna Model 172 high-winged monoplane as a basic trainer. The Model 172 was introduced in 1964 as the T-41 "Mescalero" (Mescalero representing an Apache tribe) and retained all of the form and function of its civilian market product. Over 750 of the type delivered. The United States Army also took on the aircraft in a slightly different form though also in notable numbers.

USAF models were the initial T-41A variant and these were a version of the Cessna Model 172F product outfitted with a Continental O-300 engine of 145 horsepower. 211 of the type were procured in all. The United States Army form became the T-41B variant and these were based on the Model R172E product while being outfitted with a Continental IO-360 engine of 210 horsepower. 211 examples then followed. This then led to the USAF variant using the T-41C designation which carried the same engine as the Army T-41B.

The Mescalero line was seen in an export form as the T-41D which were shipped with Continental IO-360 engines. At least 238 of these were delivered. Those customers passing on the T-41D but requiring the services of such an aircraft simply purchased base Cessna Model 172 and pressed these into military roles while retaining the original Lycoming O-320 engines. Operators of the Mescalero proved plenty and ranged from Angola and Argentina to Turkey and Uruguay. Some operate even today (2015) though their numbers have dwindled considerably over the passing decades.

Throughout their service time aloft, the T-41 has been used in training, liaison and light transport roles.

Specifications

Service Year

1964

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Limited Service.

Crew

1

Production

756
UNITS

Cessna - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Angola; Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Colombia; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Greece; Honduras; Indonesia; Iran; Laos; Liberia; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; South Korea; South Vietnam; Thailand; Turkey; United States; Uruguay

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.

✓ Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

Length

26.9 ft
(8.20 m)

Width/Span

35.8 ft
(10.90 m)

Height

8.9 ft
(2.70 m)

Empty Wgt

1,367 lb
(620 kg)

MTOW

2,502 lb
(1,135 kg)

Wgt Diff

+1,135 lb
(+515 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Cessna T-41C Mescalero production variant)

Installed: 1 x Continental IO-360-D engine developing 210 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Max Speed

144 mph
(232 kph | 125 kts)

Ceiling

16,995 ft
(5,180 m | 3 mi)

Range

721 mi
(1,160 km | 2,148 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

880 ft/min
(268 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Cessna T-41C Mescalero production variant. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database. View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

T-41 - Base Series Designation

T-41A - USAF model; fitted with Continental O-300 engine of 145 horsepower; based on Model 172F; 211 examples produced.

T-41B - US Army model; fitted with Continental IO-360 engine of 210 horsepower; based on Model R172E; 255 examples produced.

T-41C - Based on T-41B; fitted with Continental IO-360 engine of 210 horsepower; 52 examples completed.

T-41D - Simplified export model with IO-360 engine; 238 examples produced.

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