Cessna 175
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| Cessna 175 Skylark | |
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| Cessna 175A Skylark at Rockcliffe Airport, Ontario, 2004 | |
| Type | Light utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Aircraft Company |
| Introduced | 1958 |
| Produced | 1958-1962 |
| Number built | 2,106 |
| Variants | Cessna 172 |
The Cessna 175 Skylark is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane produced between 1958 and 1962.
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[edit] Production history
The 175 was designed to fill a niche between the Cessna 172 and the heavy-duty Cessna 180. The engine of the 175 yielded 175 horsepower (130 kW), 25 horsepower (18 kW) more than did the engine of the 172. Between 1958 and 1962, a total of 2,106 were built.
[edit] Design
The airframe of the 175 is all metal, constructed of aluminum alloy. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure, with exterior skin sheets riveted to formers and longerons. The strut-braced wings, likewise, are constructed of exterior skin sheets riveted to spars and ribs. The landing gear of the 175 is in a tricycle arrangement, with main gear legs made of spring steel, along with a steerable nosewheel connected through an oleo strut used for shock absorption.
While it incorporates airframe changes, the 175 is very similar in appearance to the Cessna 172 of the same vintage. The most noticeable difference is the distinctive bulge in the cowling to accommodate the gearbox of the engine.
[edit] The GO-300 engine
An unusual feature of the 175 is the use of the geared Continental GO-300 engine. Whereas most single-engine airplanes use direct drive, this engine drives the propeller through a reducing gearbox, so that the engine runs at 3200 rpm to turn the propeller at 2400 rpm.
The GO-300 engine has a TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of only 1200 hours[1], which compared unfavorably with some contemporary engines. The GO-300 engine also suffered reliability problems and helped the 175 develop a poor reputation. Many Skylarks flying today have been converted to direct-drive engines.
The reputation of the GO-300 may not have been deserved, since the problems associated with it were the result of pilots who were familiar with direct-drive engines simply not operating the engine correctly. Pilots unfamiliar with the engine often operated the engine at low RPM settings (2300) appropriate to direct-drive engines, while the 175's Operating Handbook called for 2900 RPM. This prevented the engine's air-cooling system from operating effectively and resulted in a lack of reliability.
[edit] Variants
Many of the higher-powered versions of the Cessna 172 in fact belong to the 175 type design. Included in this group are the P172D Powermatic, most of the Cessna T-41 aircraft (the T-41B, -41C, and -41D models), the R172K "Hawk XP," and the retractable gear 172RG. These aircraft are covered in more detail in the Cessna 172 and T-41 articles.
[edit] Specifications (Cessna 175A)
[edit] General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: three passengers
- Length: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97m)
- Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
- Wing area: ft² ( m²)
- Empty: 1,339 lb (607 kg)
- Loaded: lb ( kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Continental GO-300C six cylinder engine, 175 hp (130 kW)
[edit] Performance
- Maximum speed: 148 mph (236 km/h)
- Range: 598 miles (957 km)
- Service ceiling: ft ( m)
- Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (259 m/min)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[edit] Related content
Related development
See also
Single-engine: 120 • 140 • 150 • 152 • 165 • 170 • 172 • 175 • 177 • 177RG • 180 • 182 • 185 • 188 • 190 • 195 • 205 • 206 • 207 • 208 • 210 • 305
Twin-engine: 303 • 310 • 320 • 336 • 337 • 340 • 401 • 402 • 404 • 406 • 411 • 414 • 425 • 441
Citation series: 500 • 501 • 510 • 525 • 525A • 525B • 550 • 551 • 560 • 650 • 680 • 750
