Here's an amazing story about an aircraft that has been in production, virtually unchanged, for 60+ years, and now holds that record for the most of any one model to have been produced, the Cessna 172, with something over 43,000 having come off the line:
Thanks John... I didn't realise it was originally planned as a trainer... just thought of it as the 'Volkswagen' of airplanes... just like the old DC3...
Dik
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Note that the original Cessna 172 had a 145 HP engine and sold for about $8,700 in 1956. Today, there are two basic models, the 160 HP 172R for $275,000 and the 180 HP 172S for $308,000 (these prices are a couple of years old).
When I was younger I considered taking flying lessons, but couldn't afford it. Now that I can, I suspect that people would say that I'm too old to start now.
No, I'm still doing restorations. My wife just gave me the job of restoring the finish on our 37 year old dining room table
The AN2 pictured above by checkerhater ,
Whilst that aircraft is officially out of production,it lives on as the AN3 essentially the same machine with a turboprop engine.
And they are still making that.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
If you take the design of the Piper Cub from its inception as the Taylor E-2 Cub in 1930 to present, still manufactured versions of the Super Cub, the Cub is still in production 87 years later. the engine has gone from the original forty-horsepower, two cylinder engine to today's Super Cubs with 180 horsepower, but it's still recognizable, and they're still heavily used and/or enjoyed today.
old field guy
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Not aware of anybody producing copies of the super cub, and piper stopped making them in '94 or so. But they are venerable, and the design was good enough that people will be copying it for years to come, at least once the drone craze dies down.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Wiki says Piper Cubs had a stall speed of 38 mph. It surprises me its that low. There were missions during WW2 of Russians jumping out without parachutes into snow in Finland. Jumping out of a Piper Cub at 30-40 mph into powdered snow would probably be very survivable.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
HH,
I read somewhere that Britain got a lot of spies into France during WW2 that way.
The aircraft would fly low and slow over a farmer's field, the spy would tuck and roll out a side door, and the plane would gradually bumble away (using as little engine power as possible yet still climb).
STF
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
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RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Dik
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
If there is a design that takes the most advantage of physics, should it ever change?
--Scott
www.aerornd.com
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoming_O-360
Note that the original Cessna 172 had a 145 HP engine and sold for about $8,700 in 1956. Today, there are two basic models, the 160 HP 172R for $275,000 and the 180 HP 172S for $308,000 (these prices are a couple of years old).
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
I'm glad it mentioned Mathias Rust's historic flight.
John,
Are you shopping for your next hobby?
STF
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
No, I'm still doing restorations. My wife just gave me the job of restoring the finish on our 37 year old dining room table
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
No, it shouldn't:
"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
old field guy
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Whilst that aircraft is officially out of production,it lives on as the AN3 essentially the same machine with a turboprop engine.
And they are still making that.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
I am most impressed by "design that takes the most advantage of physics": http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150415-the-plane...
"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
Sorry, it looks like I'm hijacking the thread. Won't happen again.
"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_UH-1_Iroquois
STF
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
--Scott
www.aerornd.com
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayres_Thrush
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
old field guy
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
There is a company called Cub Crafters that restores old piper cubs ,and also manufactures part23 certified cubs.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
I read somewhere that Britain got a lot of spies into France during WW2 that way.
The aircraft would fly low and slow over a farmer's field, the spy would tuck and roll out a side door, and the plane would gradually bumble away (using as little engine power as possible yet still climb).
STF
RE: While a 60 year old aircraft is not unusual, one that's still in production after 60 years is...
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?