Cessna 175
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The Cessna 175 is a
light Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...
four-seat, single-engine,
fixed wing aircraft A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft, such as an airplane, which is capable of flight using aerodynamic lift. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft (in which a rotor mounted on a spinning shaft generates l ...
produced by
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 ...
between 1958 and 1962. A deluxe model known as the Skylark was introduced in 1959 for the 1960
model year The model year (sometimes abbreviated as MY) is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. ...
. The aircraft is very similar to the popular
Cessna 172 The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company.gross weight In science and engineering, the weight of an object is a quantity associated with the gravitational force exerted on the object by other objects in its environment, although there is some variation and debate as to the exact definition. Some st ...
and used a more powerful version of its engine with a geared
reduction drive A reduction drive is a mechanical device to shift rotational speed. A planetary reduction drive is a small scale version using ball bearings in an epicyclic arrangement instead of toothed gears. Reduction drives are used in engines of all kinds ...
, achieving higher performance. The Cessna 175 sat between the Cessna 172 and the larger
Cessna 182 The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engined light airplane built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats in the baggage area. Introduced in 1956, the 182 has been produced in a ...
in the product line at its debut. Declining sales stemming from reputedly poor engine reliability prompted Cessna to drop the 175 and Skylark nameplates, but the company continued to produce aircraft based on the 175 for several decades, selling them as variants of the 172 and as a military
trainer aircraft A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristic ...
, the
T-41 Mescalero The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Army, Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a Trainer (aircraft), pilot-training ...
.


Production history

The 175 was designed to fill a niche between the
Cessna 172 The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company.Cessna 182 The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engined light airplane built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats in the baggage area. Introduced in 1956, the 182 has been produced in a ...
. The engine of the 175, a
reduction drive A reduction drive is a mechanical device to shift rotational speed. A planetary reduction drive is a small scale version using ball bearings in an epicyclic arrangement instead of toothed gears. Reduction drives are used in engines of all kinds ...
or geared version of the O-300 (
Continental GO-300 The Continental O-300 and the C145 are a family of air-cooled flat-6 aircraft piston engines built by Teledyne Continental Motors.Christy, Joe: ''Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights'', pages 60-63. TAB Books, 1983. First produced in ...
) used in the 172, is rated at 175 hp (130 kW), or 30 hp (22 kW) more than the engine offered in the contemporary 172. Between 1958 and 1962, a total of 2,106 were built. The basic airplane was marketed as the 175, and the plane with a package of optional equipment and overall paint (a partial paint scheme was used on the basic model) was marketed as the Skylark.


Design

The airframe of the 175 is all metal, constructed of
aluminum alloy An aluminium alloy ( UK/IUPAC) or aluminum alloy ( NA; see spelling differences) is an alloy in which aluminium (Al) is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, tin, nickel and zinc. There ...
. The fuselage is a
semi-monocoque The term semi-monocoque or semimonocoque refers to a stressed shell structure that is similar to a true monocoque, but which derives at least some of its strength from conventional reinforcement. Semi-monocoque construction is used for, among o ...
structure, with exterior skin sheets riveted to
former A former is an object, such as a template, gauge or cutting die, which is used to form something such as a boat's hull. Typically, a former gives shape to a structure that may have complex curvature. A former may become an integral part of the ...
s and
longeron In engineering, a longeron or stringer is a load-bearing component of a framework. The term is commonly used in connection with aircraft fuselages and automobile chassis. Longerons are used in conjunction with stringers to form structural fram ...
s. The strut-braced
high wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft, such as an airplane, which is capable of flight using aerodynamic lift. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft (in which a r ...
s are constructed of exterior skins riveted to
spars SPARS was the authorized nickname for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Women's Reserve. The nickname was derived from the USCG's motto, "—"Always Ready" (''SPAR''). The Women's Reserve was established by law in November 1942 during Wor ...
and
ribs The rib cage or thoracic cage is an endoskeletal enclosure in the thorax of most vertebrates that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum, which protect the vital organs of the thoracic cavity, such as the heart, lungs and great vessels ...
. The 175 has fixed
landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...
in a
tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...
arrangement, with main gear legs made of spring steel, and a steerable nosewheel connected through an
oleo strut An oleo strut is a pneumatic air–oil hydraulic shock absorber used on the landing gear of most large aircraft and many smaller ones. This design cushions the impacts of landing and damps out vertical oscillations. It is undesirable for an air ...
for shock absorption. While it incorporates airframe changes to accommodate an increased
gross weight In science and engineering, the weight of an object is a quantity associated with the gravitational force exerted on the object by other objects in its environment, although there is some variation and debate as to the exact definition. Some st ...
, the 175 is similar in appearance to the 172 of the same vintage. The main design change was the introduction of a stepped firewall in the 175, allowing the use of a longer cowl with larger air intakes, increasing airflow for improved engine cooling. The firewall was mounted further back in the fuselage than in the 172, and Cessna in turn relocated the instrument panel rearward into a wider section of the fuselage, allowing it to be enlarged and laid out differently than the 172 instrument panel. With the 1960 introduction of the 175A, Cessna introduced a swept-back vertical fin shared with the 172, along with a distinct engine cowling hump that serves as the most distinct external 175 spotting feature. Cessna also fitted the 175's stepped firewall and enlarged, relocated instrument panel to the 172 starting with the 172B model. The other significant internal change from the 172 is a structural redesign of the inner third of the wings, allowing the installation of larger fuel tanks that hold versus in the 172; however, due to the location of the fuel pickups, only 42 gallons is usable in all flight conditions, and Cessna advised that only may be available at the 175's best
angle of climb In aerodynamics, climb gradient is the ratio between distance travelled over the ground and altitude gained, and is expressed as a percentage. The angle of climb can be defined as the angle between a horizontal plane representing the Earth's surf ...
. Although externally near-identical to the 172 with most parts aft of the firewall being interchangeable, the 175 was built to a different
type certificate A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). Certification confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production is in compliance w ...
.''Model 172 & 175 Series Parts Catalog (1956–1962)'' January 22, 1995 Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita Kansas USA The P172D and R172 series (including the T-41B/C/D Mescalero) share the 175 type certificate, along with the 172RG, the
retractable landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...
version of the 172.


The GO-300 engine

An unusual feature of the 175 is the geared GO-300 engine. Whereas most single-engine airplanes use direct drive, this engine drives the propeller through a reduction drive, so the engine runs at 3200
RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines. One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...
to turn the propeller at 2400 RPM (4:3). The GO-300 engine suffered reliability problems and helped give the 175 a poor reputation. Some Skylarks flying today have been converted to larger-displacement direct-drive enginesChristy, Joe: ''Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights'', pages 60–63. TAB Books, 1983. though almost 90% still retain the GO-300. Modern authorities consider the GO-300's tainted reputation to be undeserved because pilots unfamiliar with reduction-drive engines often did not realize that the GO-300 must always be operated at relatively high RPM as specified in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Rather than cruising at 2900 RPM or higher as specified in the POH, pilots would cruise at lower RPM settings (2300–2700) appropriate for direct-drive engines in other light aircraft, which caused harmonic vibration in the reduction gear between the quill shaft (that turned the propeller) and
crankshaft A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a reciprocating engine, piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating Shaft (mechanical engineering), shaft containing one or more crankpins, ...
, and resulted in low airspeed that prevented the engine's cooling system from operating effectively. At 2500 RPM and below, the GO-300 does not generate sufficient oil pressure for adequate lubrication and cooling. These factors cause chronic reliability problems in 175s that are persistently operated at low RPM. Confusing provisions in the original POH may have contributed to the problems, as it lists cruise speed and fuel burn down to 2400 RPM or 36% power, creating the misleading impression that sustained cruise at this RPM setting is advisable. Authorities also advise pilots of the 175 to descend gradually at constant power settings and to always keep a load on the engine, as the reduction drive makes it possible for airflow through the propeller to drive the engine during descent, which can result in engine damage.


Variants

''Cessna has historically used
model years The model year (sometimes abbreviated as MY) is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. ...
similar to U.S. auto manufacturers, with sales of new models typically starting a few months prior to the actual calendar year.'' ;175 :Introduced for the 1958 model year with a geared Continental GO-300-A or -300-C engine with a shock-mounted cowling. Other differences from the 172 include a one-piece "Sight-Sweep" windshield and a gross weight of . Standard equipment included adjustable front seats, electric gauges, panel-mounted fuel drain control, safety-designed control wheels, and stainless steel mufflers. Optional wheel fairings were also available. The 1959 model year introduced new control wheels and was available in seven paint schemes (up from four in 1958), but was otherwise identical to the previous model year.
Certified Certification is part of testing, inspection and certification and the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestatio ...
14 January 1958. 702 (1958) and 536 (1959) built.Phillips, Edward H: ''Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III'', Flying Books, 1986. ;175A :1960 model year with a redesigned swept tail, a Continental GO-300-A, -300-C, or -300-D engine, an external baggage door, and reduced nose geat
oleo strut An oleo strut is a pneumatic air–oil hydraulic shock absorber used on the landing gear of most large aircraft and many smaller ones. This design cushions the impacts of landing and damps out vertical oscillations. It is undesirable for an air ...
travel. This model was approved for seaplane operations with a gross weight of . A deluxe model was introduced under the name Slylark with a higher empty weight, full exterior paint, a refined interior, and wheel fairings as standard. Certified 28 August 1959. 540 built. ;175B :1961 model year with an electric starter, a "Blend-Temp" ventilation system, "Polycloud" seat lining, and optional reclining front seats. The deluxe Skylark also featured an engine-driven vacuum system for the gyroscopic flight instruments. Like the 175A, the 175B was approved for seaplane operations. Certified 14 June 1960. 225 built. ;175C Skylark :1962 model year with a Continental GO-300-A or -300-E engine, new wingtip fairings with position lights, a revised cowling with cowl flaps, a dual-beam landing/taxi light on the left wing, a new two-bladed constant-speed propeller, and gross weight increased to . The baseline model was dropped for this model year, therefore all 175Cs carried the "Skylark" name. Certified 18 September 1961. 117 built. This was the last production model to carry the model number 175, though future variants of the same type certificate were marketed as variants of the Cessna 172. ;175D :One flying prototype and one static test article. Put into production as the Model P172D.


Specifications (Cessna 175C)


See also

* Skylark (disambiguation)


References

*


External links

* {{Cessna
175 Year 175 ( CLXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Iulianus (or, less frequently, year 928 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 175 for this yea ...
High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft 1950s United States civil utility aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1958 Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft