My Classroom And Its Predecessor

In this article you can find a short overview of the history and facts about the Cessna 152 (and it's predecessor the Cessna 150) aircraft. The Cessna 150/152 is a well known American made single-engine, two-seat, fixed gear airplane used primarily for flight training, touring, and personal flying. The Cessna 152 was intended to compete with the new Beechcraft Skipper and Piper Tomahawk aircraft, both of which were introduced the same year, 1977.

With a length of 24 feet 1 inches (7.3 meters), and a wingspan of 33 feet 4 inches (10.2 meters), the Cessna 152 has a maximum speed of 126 miles per hour (110 knots), and a maximum take-off weight of 1,670 pounds (757 kg). The Cessna 152 has a service ceiling of 14,700 feet (4,480 meters).

Between 1977 and 1985 there were a total of 7,584 Cessna 152's produced. The majority, around 6,943 were built in Wichita, Kansas, and consisted of 6,628 regular variants, and 315 Aerobats. During this same time period 641 were built by Reims Aviation under the Cessna license in France and given the designation F152 and FA152. 552 of these were designed as regular variants and 89 were built as Aerobats.

Below you can see some pictures from the Cessna 150 cockpit:

Cessna 150 Cockpit

Cessna instruments

Flying the C150

The Cessna 152 proved to be more economical than the Cessna 150 to operate due to an increased time between overhaul which was a direct result of the upgraded powerplant. The earlier 150 model used the Continental O-200-A which generated between 90 and 100 horsepower. By comparison the Cessna 152's Lycoming O-235produced between 100 and 135 horsepower. The Lycoming powerplant was also more compatible with the newer 100LL low lead fuel, which is still the most commonly available and used aviation gasoline.

According to rumors the Cessna 152 cabin was also widened slightly to make room for the increasing girth of late 20th century pilots.

(In this photo: Cessna 150 wing, propeller and landing gear)

Equipped with fixed tricycle landing gear, the nose wheel of the Cessna 152 is connected to the engine mount and features an oleo strut to dampen and absorb normal operating loads. It's connected to the rudder pedals through a spring linkage. The Cessna 152 is also fitted with a parking brake system which is applied by depressing both toe brakes and then pulling a "Park Brake" lever located to the left of the pilot.

There are hundreds of modifications available for the Cessna 152, including a tailwheel landing gear and a number of STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) kits. At a Cessna 150-152 club national convention take-off competition one airplane was able to take off into a headwind using 408 feet of runway when realistically a length of 1,500 feet is ideal. Additionally flap gap seals can also reduce drag and increase rate of climb, and auxiliary fuel tanks for larger capacity.  

(In this photo: Cessna 150 wing and wing strut)

Due to the worldwide popularity of the Cessna 152 there are numerous aviation clubs and associations dedicated to flying and maintaining it. The vast majority of active professional and private pilots have experience flying the Cessna 152. Although he never flew in the aircraft which bears his surname, the Cessna 152 would not have been possible without the foresight of the enthusiastic engineer Clyde Cessna, who passed away in 1954.

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."