Comments on: Aviation’s Favorite Blog Jetwhine Welcomes A Real Expert … Mr. Know It All

By: Walt Shiel

Walt Shiel — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:06:21 +0000

Oh, one more thing. Officially, the only T-41 ever designated the Mescalero by the US military was the Army T-41B (goes with the other Army Indian-tribe names for aircraft).

However, we in the USAF unofficially adopted that name in lieu of any official USAF designation.

-Walt

By: Walt Shiel

Walt Shiel — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:04:02 +0000

OK, looks like it’s time to clear up several misconceptions about the US military’s use of the ubiquitous Cessna 172.

There were essentially four models of the 172 purchases by the US military:

T-41A: 242 bought by USAF in 1964-70 (some were delivered to other countries under MAP). Delivered with 145 hp O-300-D engine

T-41B: 255 purchased by US Army in 1966-67 (some delivered to other countries under MAP). Its 210 hp IO-360D with constant speed prop makes it a snappy 172! Lots of other Army-specific mods that make it a very nice package and hardly a stock 172 of any kind (it’s official Cessna nomenclature is R172E).

T-41C: 52 purchased by USAF strictly for use at the USAF Academy at mile-high Falcon Field. Used the 210 hp IO-360-D with a fixed pitch prop (later mod included a barometric-sensing mixture control for those high-alt takeoffs).

T-41D: 317 delivered by foreign air forces, although only 218 had USAF s/n assigned.

While a USAF pilot in ATC in a prior life, I flew the A, B and C models (flying the B was a ferry mission for the Army). I also was one of the original cadre of five USAF IPs who set up the Flight Screening Program at Hondo, TX, in 1973. When I left Hondo in 1976, I was the Chief of Standardization/Evaluation for the program.

I am also the author of “Cessna Warbirds” and co-author of “T-41 Mescalero” .

-Walt

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:08:39 +0000

Now there’s something I certainly didn’t know.

The Mescalero had a Skymaster engine in it? That’s 210 HP I think.

That think woould go vertical with a single person I bet.

By: Leroy Cook

Leroy Cook — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:05:27 +0000

I was intrigued by your query about the Mescalero.

That was Cessna’s off-the-shelf trainer for the Army, the T-41B, which was a more-or-less stock R172 Reims Rocket, a 172 powered by a Skymaster’s IO-360 Continental.

By: Makovec

Makovec — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:59:14 +0000

T-41, military trainer version of the Cessna 172

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:49:07 +0000

So here’s the deal you guys - generically of course - if one of you comes up with a really great blog question, Jetwhine will offer some really nifty prize that you can’t live without.

And if you stump everyone, you win a free subscription to Jetwhine too.

Now how’s that for a deal?

By: John Mahany

John Mahany — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:41:18 +0000

Ok, Rob, you’re on! Will see if I can come up with anything…

By: Rob Mark

Rob Mark — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:35:08 +0000

OK, OK … so you’re all really smart.

How about if one of you give me a couple of quiz questions or two that everyone can’t figure out with Google?

You know, the old fashioned way … it’s stored somewhere in your gray matter …!

By: Turge

Turge — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:58:03 +0000

Cessna t-41 trainer…(172)

By: Neace

Neace — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:27:11 +0000

Military Cessna 172 is also know as Mescalero

By: DDcraner

DDcraner — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:23:55 +0000

You maybe already have a winner, but the Mescalero is a Cessna T-41

By: Dave Byers

Dave Byers — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:12:45 +0000

That would be the USAF version of the C-172 Skyhawk - used for UPT screening

PS I cheated and used google.

By: Alan J

Alan J — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:11:50 +0000

Dear Mr. Mark:

The Mescalero is (was) the military version of the trusty C-172.

By: L1011 Jock

L1011 Jock — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:10:56 +0000

Cessna T-41 Mescalero, a modified 60’s vintage C-172 built to the specifications of the USAF for usea as a pilot screening and aeroclub airplane. It had differing horspower depending on the model suffix.

By: Oz

Oz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:09:46 +0000

The Mescalero was/is a Cessna made for the Air Force. Designation is T41.

By: Phil Yoder

Phil Yoder — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:08:32 +0000

The cessna T-41 was also known as the Mescalero

By: Steve Sandler

Steve Sandler — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:07:36 +0000

The Cessna T-41 was the Mescalero

By: Thierry

Thierry — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:06:38 +0000

Cessna T41A Mescaralo US Air Force basically a Cessna 172

By: John Mahany

John Mahany — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:05:27 +0000

Hey Rob, is it the Cessna 172?

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:10:09 +0000

Man oh man. You guys didn’t even let me finish lunch before you came up with the correct answer.

I’m going to talk to my friends at Southwest Airlines.

Now those folks know how to develop questions!!

Why not send me a private e-mail Rick to rob@jetwhine.com with your mailing address and Mr. Know it All will ship you a book.

Thanks for playing.