The Cessna 152 is an American two-seat, fixed- tricycle-gear,

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...

airplane An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a vari ...

, used primarily for flight training and personal use. It was based on the earlier Cessna 150 incorporating a number of minor design changes and a slightly more powerful engine with a longer time between overhaul. The Cessna 152 has been out of production for forty years, but many are still airworthy and are in regular use for flight training.

Development

First delivered in 1977 as the 1978 model year, the 152 was a modernization of the proven Cessna 150 design. The 152 was intended to compete with the new Beechcraft Skipper and Piper Tomahawk, both of which were introduced the same year. Additional design goals were to improve useful load through a gross weight increase to , decrease internal and external noise levels and run better on the then newly introduced Avgas fuel.. As with the 150, the great majority of 152s were built at the

Cessna Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufactu ...

factory in

Wichita, Kansas Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...

. A number of aircraft were also built by Reims Aviation of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and given the designation F152/FA152.. Production of the 152 was ended in 1985 when Cessna ended production of all of their light aircraft; by that time, a total of 7,584 examples of the 152, including A152 and FA152 Aerobat aerobatic variants, had been built worldwide. In 2007 Cessna announced that it would build a light-sport successor, designated the Model 162 Skycatcher, although production ended in 2013.

Design

Powerplant

All Cessna 152s were manufactured with a Lycoming O-235 engine which has been in production since 1942. The Lycoming provided not only an increase in engine power over the Cessna 150, but also was more compatible with the newer 100LL low-lead fuel. Cessna 152s produced between 1977 and 1982 were equipped with Lycoming O-235-L2C engines producing at 2,550 rpm. This engine still suffered some lead-fouling problems in service. In 1983, it was succeeded by the O-235-N2C which featured a different piston design and a redesigned combustion chamber to reduce this problem. The N2C engine was used until 152 production ended in 1985.

Airframe

The airframe is mainly of metal construction, being primarily of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy with riveted skin. Components such as wingtips and fairings are made from

glass-reinforced plastic Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass ( Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass c ...

. The fuselage is a semi- monocoque with vertical bulkheads and frames joined by longerons running the length of the

fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...

. The wings are of a strut-braced design and have a 1 degree dihedral angle. The tapered (outboard) portion of each wing has one degree of washout (the chord of the tip section has one degree lower angle of attack than the chord at the end of the constant-width section). This allows greater

aileron An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement aroun ...

effectiveness during a stall.Cessna Aircraft Company: ''1978 Cessna 152 Pilot's Operating Handbook'' Change 1, pp. 7-3 to 7-33. Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas, 1977. The 1978 model has a one piece cowling nose bowl that requires removing the propeller to remove it. The 1979 model introduced a split-nose cowling nose bowl that can be removed without removing the propeller. Phillips, Edward H.: ''Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III'', p. 12, Flying Books, 1986.

Flying controls

Dual controls are available as optional equipment on the Cessna 152 and almost all 152s have this option installed. The Cessna 152 is equipped with differential ailerons that move through 20 degrees upwards and 15 degrees downwards. It has single-slotted fowler flaps which are electrically operated and deploy to a maximum of 30 degrees. The

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...

can move 23 degrees to either side and is fitted with a ground-adjustable trim tab. The

elevators An elevator (American English) or lift (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) is a machine that vertically transports people or freight between levels. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive tracti ...

move up through 25 degrees and down through 18 degrees. An adjustable trim tab is installed on the right elevator and is controlled by a small wheel in the center of the control console. The trim tab moves 10 degrees up and 20 degrees down relative to the elevator chordline.

Landing gear

The Cessna 152 is equipped with fixed tricycle landing gear. The main gear has tubular steel legs surrounded by a full-length fairing with a step for access to the cabin. The main gear has a wheelbase. The nosewheel is connected to the engine mount and has an oleo strut to dampen and absorb normal operating loads. The nosewheel is steerable through 30 degrees either side of neutral and can castor under differential braking up to 30 degrees. It is connected to the rudder pedals through a spring linkage. The braking system consists of single disc brake assemblies fitted to the main gear and operated by a hydraulic system. Brakes are operated by pushing on the top portion of the rudder pedals. It is possible to use differential braking when taxiing and this allows very tight turns to be made. The 152 is also fitted with a parking brake system. It is applied by depressing both toe brakes and then pulling the "Park Brake" lever to the pilot's left. The toe brakes are then released but pressure is maintained in the system thereby leaving both brakes engaged. The standard tires used are 600 X 6 on the main gear and 500 X 5 on the nosewheel.

Modifications

There are hundreds of modifications available for the Cessna 152. The most frequently installed include:

Tailwheel landing gear

Taildragger conversions are available and have been fitted to some 152s. It involves strengthening the fuselage for the main gear being moved further forward, removing the nosewheel and strengthening the tail area for the tailwheel. This greatly improves short field performance and is claimed to give up to a cruise speed increase.Clarke, Bill: ''Cessna 150 and 152'' first edition, pp. 197–212. TAB Books, 1987. .Grimstead, Bob: ''Texas Taildragger 152'', pp. 14–22. Pilot Magazine UK, January 2007.

STOL kits

The wings can be modified using a number of STOL modification kits, some improving high speed/cruise performance but most concentrating on STOL performance. Horton's STOL kit is one of the better-known of the latter. It involves fitting a more cambered leading edge cuff to increase the maximum coefficient of lift, fitting fences at the aileron/flap intersection and fitting drooped wingtips. Stalls with these modifications are almost off the airspeed indicator, since instrument error is high at high angles of attack. It has been said that landings can be achieved in two fuselage lengths with the kit installed in addition to a taildragger modification, by balancing power against drag. Takeoff performance is also improved by varying degrees depending on the surface.

Engine

The engine's power can be increased by various modifications, such as the ''Sparrow Hawk'' power package, increasing it to . The disadvantage of the ''Sparrow Hawk'' conversion is that it uses pistons from the O-235-F series engine and therefore the engine recommended time between overhauls is reduced from 2,400 hours to 2,000 hours.

Other modifications

Other popular modifications include: * Flap gap seals to reduce drag and increase rate of climb. * Different wingtips, some of which claim various cruise speed increases and stall speed reductions. * Auto fuel STCs, which permit the use of automobile fuel instead of the more expensive aviation fuel. * Auxiliary fuel tanks for greater range. * Door catches to replace the factory ones that often fail in service. * Belly fuel drain valves to drain fuel from the lowest point in the fuel system.

Variants

Cessna 152 has only 4 model variants: 152, F152, A152, FA152 (all equipped with the Lycoming O-235): ;152:Two-seat light touring aircraft, fitted with a fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine, 6628 built. Available with a number of avionic options, aside from the standard Model 152 there was a 152 II with an enhanced package of standard avionics and trim features. Type approved in 1977 and produced as 1978 to 1985 model years. ;A152 Aerobat:Two-seat aerobatic-capable aircraft, 315 built. Certified for +6/-3 Gs and had standard four-point harnesses, skylights and jettisonable doors, along with a checkerboard paint scheme and removable seat cushions to allow parachutes to be worn by the crew. Type approved in 1977 and produced as 1978 to 1985 model years. The following

aerobatic maneuver Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dogfights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in Formation flying, formation with several others. Nearly all a ...

s are approved:

chandelle The ''chandelle'' is an aircraft control maneuver where the pilot combines a 180° turn with a climb.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 102. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. barrel rolls, snap rolls, loops, vertical reversements, lazy eights,

spins The spins (as in having "the spins") is an adverse reaction of Substance intoxication, intoxication that causes a state of vertigo and nausea, causing one to feel as if "spinning out of control", especially when lying down. It is most commonly as ...

, aileron rolls,

Immelmann turn The term Immelmann turn, named after German Empire, German World War I Eindecker fighter ace Leutnant Max Immelmann, refers to two different aircraft maneuvers. In World War I aerial combat, an Immelmann turn was a maneuver used after an attack ...

s, Cuban eights and stalls (except whip stalls). ;F152: Reims-built Model 152, 552 built. ;FA152 Aerobat: Reims-built Model A152, 89 built. ;C152 II: Not a special model but with ''Nav Pac'' equipment package, which included better quality avionics for IFR flying and additional interior equipment, which makes it a little more basic weight. Cessna 152-T Cockpit

;C152 T: Not a special model but flight school equipment package, with "T" denoting "trainer" and not a sub-model. ;C152 Reimagined: Not a special model but a general overhaul and rebuilt of Cessna 152s by Aviat.

Operators

Civilian operators

The 152 is popular with flight training organizations and is also widely operated by private individuals.

Military operators

; * Argentine National Gendarmerie operated three from 2004. ; * Bangladesh Army A152 Aerobat ; * Bolivian Air Force – 12 in service as of 1987. ; * Botswana Defence Force Air Wing two A152 ; * Gabonese Air Force one F152 ; * Lesotho Defence Force one A152 ; * Mexican Navy operated seven from 1979

Incidents and accidents

*On May 9, 1989, a man who had murdered his ex-wife earlier that evening stole a Cessna 152T at gunpoint from an employee at Beverly Municipal Airport. During the flight, which lasted over three hours, Alfred James Hunter III fired a semi-automatic AK-47 rifle at the ground below, buzzed the South Postal Annex in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

several times, and briefly touched down at Logan International Airport before taking off again. He was arrested when he finally landed with just five minutes' worth of fuel remaining. *On 24 May 2001, a Cessna 152 violated Israeli airspace and was shot down by an IAF AH-64 Apache. Estephan Nicolian, a Lebanese student pilot, was shot down after ignoring repeated warnings by Israeli ATC to turn back. This is one of the two only-known operational air-to-air kills using an AGM-114 Hellfire missile. *On 20 August 2024, Cessna 152 (VT-TAJ) aircraft used as a trainer aircraft by Alchemist Aviation lost contact with

Jamshedpur Jamshedpur (; ), also known as Tatanagar, is a major industrial city in eastern India. It is the List of cities in Jharkhand by population, largest city in the state of Jharkhand. With a population of 629,658 in the city limits and 1.3 million ...

Air Traffic Control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled air ...

(ATC) tower around 11:10 am, shortly after taking off from Sonari aerodrome at 10:32 am. An investigation on the incident was launched. On 21 August, search operations were initiated by local authorities, forest department and an NDRF team. On 22 August, the bodies of instructor pilot Captain Jeet Satru (2,000 hours flying experience) and trainee pilot Shubhrodeep Dutta (80+ hours flying experience) were recovered from reservoir of Chandil Dam. As of 25 August, the search ops are on for the lost airframe. A search and rescue team of the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy (IN) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Navy, maritime and Amphibious warfare, amphibious branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief ...

has joined the search efforts from

Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...

on 22 August upon request. Eyewitnesses said that the aircraft crashed into the water body itself. The aircraft had 80 litres of fuel and 4 hours and 30 minutes of endurance - the schedule was for 1 hour. However, it was not clear why the Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT) did not turn on. The aircraft having a total lifespan of 30,000 hours utilised only 16,000 hours. On 26 August, the 20-member diving and hydrographic survey team of Eastern Naval Command recovered the debris of aircraft after a 5-day long search operation.

Specifications (Cessna 152)

References

* * * *

External links

Cessna 150 & 152 page on Airliners.net

"Cessna 152 Aerobat"
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Cessna 150/152 Model History

{{Authority control 152 High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft 1970s United States civil trainer aircraft 1970s United States civil utility aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1976 Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft