1938 Cessna C165 Airmaster

Our 1938 Cessna C165 Airmaster is one of only about 180 Airmasters built by Cessna before World War II forced the end of its production. The Cessna Airmaster is the aircraft credited with saving the Cessna Aircraft Corporation from having been but one more on a long list of aircraft manufacturing companies lost to the great depression of the 1930s.

In its day it was sold as the "World's Most Efficient Airplane" after winning several aerial competitions and Trophy Races. It was the only airplane at the time which offered one mile per hour of travel for each horse power created by its radial engine. Even with modern technology you would be hard pressed to find a new aircraft capable of carrying four adults with this same level of efficiency.

After WWII Cessna replaced the Airmaster model with the all new Cessna 190/195 series of aircraft. Just by looking it is easy tell that Cessna drew heavily on the earlier design success of the C165 when he designed his new line of post war aircraft.

Specifications

Wing span 34'2".
Length 24'8".
Height 7' 9".
Weight empty 1380lbs.
Useful load 970 lbs.
Baggage 64 lbs.
Fuel 35-53 gals.
Oil 3.5 gals. Performance-
Powered with a 145h.p. Warner Super-Scarab engine,
the Airmaster has a maximum speed of 162 m.p.h.,
cruises at 151 m.p.h.

(Of course the C165 when fitted with the 165HP Warner had

slightly better performance all the way around. )