Cessna 175

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A Cessna 175A Skylark lands at Carelton Place, Ontario, Airport, 2004

Cessna 175C (G-ARWS)

Cessna 175A Skylark at Rockcliffe Airport, Ontario, 2004

The Cessna 175 Skylark was a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane that was produced between 1958 and 1962. A total of 2106 were built. The Skylark is very similar in appearance to a Cessna 172 Skyhawk of the same vintage, the most noticeable difference being a bulge in the cowling to accommodate the original geared Continental GO-300 engine.

The Skylark was designed to fill a niche between the Cessna 172 and the heavy-duty Cessna 180. It incorporated airframe changes and the geared GO-300 engine to produce 175 hp (130 kW) - 25 hp (18 kW) more than did the Skyhawk.

The GO-300 Engine

The most unique characteristic of the original factory Skylark was the use of the geared continental GO-300 engine. This engine drove the propeller through a reducing gearbox, so that the engine turned at 3200 rpm to turn the propeller at 2400 rpm.

The GO-300 engine had a TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of only 1200 hours[link], while 2000 hours is considered standard for most light piston-engined aircraft. The GO-300 engine also suffered reliability problems and helped the Skylark develop a poor reputation, although many Skylarks flying today have been converted to direct-drive engines.

The reputation of this engine may not have been deserved, since the problems associated with it are the result of pilots who were familiar with direct-drive engines simply not operating the engine correctly. Pilots unfamiliar with the engine often cruised at lower rpm (2300) while the Pilot Operating Handbook called for 2900 rpm. This prevented the engine's air-cooling system from operating effectively and resulted in a lack of reliability.

Specifications (Cessna 175A)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: three passengers
Length: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97m)
Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
Wing area: ft² ( m²)
Empty: 1,339 lb (607 kg)
Loaded: lb ( kg)
Maximum takeoff: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)
Powerplant: 1x Continental GO-300C flat six engine, 175 hp (130 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 148 mph (236 km/h)
Range: 598 miles (957 km)
Service ceiling: ft ( m)
Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (259 m/min)
Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
Power/mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Cessna 175

The GO-300 Engine

Specifications (Cessna 175A)

General characteristics

Performance

External links

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