Cessna
T-41
Mescalero
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T-41A
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)

Dayton, Ohio
The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft.

VARIANTS

With the exception of the T-41A, most variants of the T-41 were certified under the Cessna 175 Skylark type certification.

T-41A
United States Air Force version of the Cessna 172F for undergraduate pilot training, powered by 145 hp Continental O-300, 211 built

T-41B
United States Army version powered by a fuel-injected 210 hp (157 kW) Continental IO-360-D or -DE driving a constant-speed propeller and featuring a 28V electrical system, jettisonable doors, an openable right front window, a 6.00x6 nose wheel tire, and military avionics. The baggage door was removed. 255 built (all Model R172E).

T-41C
USAF Academy version with a fixed-pitch propeller, civilian avionics, and only the two front seats. 52 total built; 45 as the R172E and 7 as the R172F.

T-41D
Military Aid Program version with 28V electrical system, four seats, corrosion-proofing, reinforced flaps and ailerons, a baggage door, and provisions for wing-mounted pylons. 299 total built; 34 as the R172E, 74 as the R172F, 28 as the R172G, and 163 as the R172H (with extended tail fillet). First T-41D delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 1968

T-41A
Photo: Robert Deering 1981
Carswell AFB (FWH)
Fort Worth, Texas
 

T-41B
Photo: James "Skip"  Dent 1968
Wright AAF (LHW)
Fort Stewart, Georgia
 

T-41B
Photo: Robert Deering 1968
Wright AAF (LHW)
Fort Stewart, Georgia

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

In 1964, the US Air Force (USAF) decided to use the off-the-shelf Cessna 172F as a lead-in aircraft for student pilots rather than starting them out in the T-37 jet aircraft. The USAF ordered 237 T-41As from Cessna. The first USAF class (67-A) of students began training on the T-41 from the civilian airport in Big Spring, Texas, in August 1965.

The T-41B was the US Army version, with a 210 hp (160 kW) Continental IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller in place of the 145 hp (108 kW) Continental O-300 and 7654 fixed-pitch propeller used in the 172 and the T-41A.

In 1968, the USAF acquired 52 of the more powerful T-41Cs, which used 210 hp (160 kW) Continental IO-360 and a fixed-pitch climb propeller, for use at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

In 1996, the aircraft were further upgraded to the T-41D, which included an upgrade in avionics and to a constant-speed propeller.

Beginning in 1993, the USAF replaced many of the T-41 fleet with the Slingsby T-3A Firefly for the flight-screening role, and for aerobatic training, which was outside the design capabilities of the T-41. The T-3A fleet was indefinitely grounded in 1997 and scrapped in 2006 following a series of fatal accidents at the US Air Force Academy.

The USAF now trains all its prospective pilots and combat systems officers through a civilian contract with DOSS Aviation known as initial military flight screening, which makes use of the Diamond DA20. This program is conducted for USAF line officer accession programs (e.g., USAFA, AFROTC, and OTS), with said training taking place after these officers have been commissioned as second lieutenants. It is also conducted for USAF officers at the first lieutenant and captain level selected for flight training after an assignment as a non-aeronautically rated officer.

Four T-41s remain at the Air Force Academy for the USAFA Flying Team, as well as to support certain academic classes.

A number of air forces, including Saudi Arabia and Singapore, purchased various civilian models of the Cessna 172 for use in military training, transport, and liaison roles. While similar to the T-41, these aircraft were not T-41s and were powered by the standard 172 powerplants available in the model year purchased. These included the 145 hp (108 kW) Continental O-300 in pre-1968 aircraft and the 150 and 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320 in later 172s.

SPECIFICATIONS (T-41A): PERFORMANCE:
Span:  35 ft. 10 in. Maximum speed:  139 mph
Length:  26 ft. 11 in. Cruising speed: 
Height:  8 ft. 10 in. Range:  720 miles
Empty Weight:  Service ceiling:  13,100 ft.
Gross Weight:  2,300 lbs. loaded  
Crew: 
Engines: 
Armament: 
   
SOURCE:  National Museum of the United States Air Force  

Wright Tower
in 1968
I was a Control Tower Operator at Wright Army Airfield at Fort Stewart, Georgia in 1968. There were around 80 T-41's that were used for Warrant Officer Candidate flight training, and about 20 O-1 Birddogs that were used for rotor wing pilot transition to fixed wing. There was also a fair amount of transient aircraft coming through from all military branches as well. In addition, there was an Army Flying Club with a pair of Cessna 150's and an older Cessna 172, and I was able to earn my private pilot's license before leaving for Korea.

A week before my arrival the new control tower was dedicated and the name of the airfield was changed from Liberty AAF to Wright AAF. The FAA location identifyer for the airfield remained LIY after the name change while I was there. However, today it is LHW. In the right column is a Jacksonville sectional chart and the ATC Facility Guide for the tower from 1968, and both still had Liberty AAF (LIY) published in them. 

Wright Tower was very busy during the weekdays with about 1,200 operations per day. However, the ramp looked like the picture above on weekends.

See additional ATC experiences under the U-21 Ute.

1968 Liberty AAF
ATC Facility Guide




1968 Jacksonville
Sectional Chart