Cessna
C150
Commuter

C150G
Photo: Robert Deering 1968
Wright AAF (LIY / LHW)
Fort Stewart, Georgia

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 fourth most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced.  Production commenced late in 1958 as the 1959 model year and continued until 1977.  The Cessna 150 was offered for sale in the 150 basic model, Commuter, Commuter II, Patroller and the aerobatic Aerobat models.

Development of the Model 150 began in the mid 1950s with the decision by Cessna Aircraft to produce a successor to the popular Cessna 140 which finished production in 1951. The main changes in the 150 design were the use of tricycle landing gear, which is easier to learn to use than the tailwheel landing gear of the Cessna 140, and replacing the rounded tips of wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers with more modern, squared-off profiles. In addition, the narrow, hinged wing flaps of the 140 were replaced by larger, far more effective Fowler flaps.

The Cessna 150 prototype first flew on September 12, 1957, with production commencing in September 1958 at Cessna's Wichita, Kansas plant.  216 aircraft were also produced by Reims Aviation under license in France. These French manufactured 150s were designated Reims F-150, the "F" indicating they were built in France.

American-made 150s were all produced with the Continental O-200-A 100 hp (75 kW) engine, but the Reims-built aircraft are powered by a Rolls Royce-built Continental O-200-As, with some Continental O-240-A powered versions.

All models from 1966 onwards have larger doors and increased baggage space. With the 1967 Model 150G the doors were bowed outward 1.5 inches (38 mm) on each side to provide more cabin elbow room.

SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span:   33 ft 4 in (10.2 m) Maximum speed:  141 knots (162 mph, 259 km/h)
Length:  24 ft 9 in (7.3 m) Cruising speed:  107 knots (123 mph, 198 km/h)
Height:  8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) Range:  366 nm (421 mi, 678 km)
Empty Weight:  1,111 lb (504 kg) Service ceiling:  14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Gross Weight:  1,600 lb (730 kg)  
Crew:  Pilot plus 1 passenger (plus two children, limited to 60kgs with optional rear child seat)
Engines:  1 × Continental O-200-A flat-4 engine, 100 hp (75 kW) at 2,750 rpm
   
SOURCE:  Wikipedia