Cessna 210

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Cessna 210 Centurion

Cessna T210L

A Cessna T210L shows the design's strutless cantilever wing

A Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion with its distinctive small windows

The Cessna 210 Centurion (variants include the Cessna 210, turbocharged Cessna T210, and pressurized Cessna P210) is a 6 seat, high-performance, single-engine general aviation aircraft which was first flown January 1957. It was produced until 1985, and was offered in turbocharged and pressurized versions. Later models (after 1966) also had a cantilevered wing. Some models featured de-icing equipment on their wings. It is considered very useful because it has the speed and carrying capacity of many twin-engined aircraft, but the running cost of only one engine. Outside USA, it is common in Southern Africa, Australia & Papua New Guinea. The largest known [fleet] of C210's (59 aircraft) is operated by [Flight Express] of Orlando, Florida. Outside the U.S., a fleet of 7 Cessna 210 is operated in Windhoek, Namibia by an [air charter operator].

Its main competitive aircraft are the Raytheon (Beech) A36, Beech B36, Piper Saratoga, and Piper Malibu models. Increasingly insurance companies require type-specific training and/or simulator training for pilots to fly such an aircraft. Several simulator training companies offers such services, including FlightSafety International in Kansas and Flight Level Aviation in Pennsylvania.

The Cessna 210 was offered in several lettered models. The 210N, T210N (turbocharged), and P210N (pressurized) versions were produced in the greatest quantity. The rarest and most expensive models were the T210R and P210R, which were produced only in small quantities in 1985-86.

O&N Aircraft offers a turboprop conversion known as the "Silver Eagle." [link]

Specifications (210N Centurion II)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: 5 passengers (plus pilot)
Length: 28ft 2in
Wingspan: 39ft 9 in
Height: 9ft 8in
Wing area: 181 sq ft
Empty: 2400 lb
Loaded: 4016 lb
Maximum takeoff: 4000 lb
Powerplant: Continental TSIO-520-R Take Off Power: 310 BHP Max Continuous: 285 BHP

Performance

Maximum speed: 199 knots (T/P Versions)
Range: 1000nm 75% power at 24,000 ft
Service ceiling: 27,000 ft
Rate of climb: 930 ft/min
Wing loading: 22.9 lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
Power/Mass: 0.0775 hp/lb

Military operators

Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Philippines.

Notable crashes

While flying an early model 210A, famed test pilot Scott Crossfield crashed and died in the woods of Georgia on April 20, 2006; the [preliminary NTSB report] indicates the pilot crashed after flying into a severe (Level 6) thunderstorm and does not note any mechanical or aircraft design defect leading to this crash.