Introduction To Cessna 120/140
In the years just following the end of World War II, Cessna first began production of two-seat general aviation aircraft with the Cessna 120 and the Cessna 140.
The Cessna 140 is usually powered by an 85 or 90 horsepower (63 or 67 kW) piston engine, and has a metal fuselage and fabric wings with metal control surfaces. The later 140A model had entirely metal wings, most of the aircraft sold featuring a 90 hp Continental engine. Production ended in 1950, and was later succeeded by the Cessna 150, another two-seat trainer. Between the 120 and the 140, Cessna sold 7,000 airplanes in the four years they were in production. The larger Cessna 170 was essentially a resized 140 with a more powerful engine.
The Cessna 120 was a stripped-down version of the 140 produced at the same time, intended for the trainer market; it had the same engine as the 140, but did not have flaps. The cabin “D” side windows and electrical system (radios, lights, battery and starter) were optional.
Cessna 140Common modifications to the Cessna 120 and 140 include “metalized” wings, where the fabric is replaced with sheet aluminum, and the installation of landing gear extenders to reduce the tendency of the aircraft to nose-over on application of heavy braking.
The Cessna 120 and 140 are supported by a number of Aircraft Type Clubs, including the International Cessna 120-140 Association and the Cessna Pilots Association.
