Delaware Valley Wing

Cessna T-51

The Cessna T-51 is the military designation of the Cessna 150. It is a two-seat training aircraft that was first introduced in 1957. This model, built in 1966 was the first year with a swept-back tail, electric flaps, and a larger door and baggage compartment.

 

The US Air Force’s 557th Flying Training Squadron has operated T-51s since 1982 as part of the USAF Academy Flying Team. It is a select group of 36 cadets who hold an FAA private pilot certificate or higher. The team uses three instrument-equipped 150-horsepower Cessna 150 aircraft to compete against 144 colleges nationwide in regional and national competitions. The Team has been Regional Champions for an impressive 26 straight years. Additionally, the team has placed in the top 10 nationally in 24 of the last 27 years (as of May 2014).

 

Cessna 150F/T-51 Specifications

 

Crew                                                 2

Length                                              24 ft 9 in (7.3 m)

Wingspan                                          33 ft 4 in (10.2 m)

Height                                               8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)

Empty weight                                    1,111 lb (504 kg)

Useful load                                       490 lb (220 kg)

Max takeoff weight                           1,600 lb (730 kg)

Powerplant                                       Continental O-200A, 100 hp

Never exceed speed                          141 knots (162 mph)

Cruise speed                                     107 knots (123 mph)

Stall speed                                        42 knots (48 mph)

Range                                                366 nm (421 mi, 589 km)

Service ceiling                                   14,000 ft (4,300 m)

Rate of climb                                      670 ft/min (3.4 m/s)

Fuel consumption                               6 gal/h (23 L/h) of avgas