Clyde Cessna in CG-2 on floats (Kansas Aviation Museum/Robert J. Pickett Collection)

On 4 September 1942, Cessna receive orders to build 1,500 Waco-designed CG-4A gliders for the anticipated invasion of Europe. Cessna became the prime contractor for their portion of the production, but subcontracted assembly to other Wichita manufacturers, mostly Boeing.

The Army canceled half of the orders, and Cessna delivered its last CG-4A in January 1943. Parts and subassemblies were manufactured by a multitude of small manufacturers from communities across the country, and all three major aircraft companies in Wichita (Cessna, Beech, and Boeing) had a hand in the final assembly. Besides gliders and its own successful AT-17 trainers and UC-78 light transports, Cessna also built components of the Boeing B-29 Super Fortress and the Douglas A-26 Invader.

Colonel Ray G. Harris, Army Air Force Supervisor of the Midwestern Procurement District, said, “It is a story of industrial and Army cooperation and evidence of the ability of American industries to undertake a job that even a year ago would have been unbelievable.”

In September 1942, Cessna was awarded the Army-Navy “E” Award for production quality, work stoppage avoidance, solving production problems, maintaining fair labor practices, management, labor force, accident record, and subcontracting — the first Wichita company to win this prestigious award. Cessna received four more “E” awards before war’s end.

Cessna’s subcontracted Waco CG-4A troop gliders at Boeing’s Wichita plant in 1942 (Kansas Aviation Museum/Robert J. Pickett Collection)

Cessna wartime employment peaked at 6,074 employees working in 468,000 square feet of facilities. Cessna wartime aircraft sales totaled almost $200,000,000.

Read the rest of the military Cessna story in my book Cessna Warbirds.

Royal Morrocan Air Force to replace its T-37s

This has been in work for a couple of years now, but the contract was finally awarded to Hawker Beechcraft in September 2009. The RMAF will replace its fleet of 14 T-37s (acquired in 1996 from USAF assets) with 24 T-6B aircraft. The RMAF Tweets are currently flying at the training base at Marrakech along with some other training aircraft (including the T-34C). This is part of a major upgrade of RMAF assets, according to Defense Industry Daily.

Cessna Skymasters need wing attachment inspections

Own a Cessna O-2 (or any other Model 336/337)? Cessna has announced that they issued a Supplemental Inspection Document for a thorough inspection of the wing attachment points. This could come as early as sometime during the first quarter of 2010. Technically, a SID is not mandatory in the US for non-commercial operators but, according to AVwebFlash, Cessna is considering it mandatory.

USAF O-2A (Empire News photo via Kansas Aviation Museum)

Gooney Birds to descend en masse on Oshkosh this year!

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3/C-47/Dakota (aka Gooney Bird) and plans are well underway for a mass arrival at Wittman Regional Airport on opening day of AirVenture 2010 (26 July). A total of 35 aircraft have registered for the arrival flyby formation. Now that should be a sight not seen since the major airborne assaults of WW II.

C-47s loaded with paratroopers and equipment of the First Allied Airborne Army preparing to takeoff for Holland 17 Sep 1944.

On 2 Nov 2009, a Bird Dog pilot landing at Rochester, IN, with a passenger probably wishes he’d spent some more practice time with an instructor before making this attempt at a three-point landing. According to the final NTSB report (no injuries):

The pilot reported that the accident occurred while he was landing the airplane. He stated that he flared and the stall warning system activated. The airplane then dropped from about 6 to 12 inches above the runway surface and bounced. He stated that when the airplane came back down he lost directional control and the airplane started going to the left. He stated that he attempted to correct using right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left and went off the runway. The right main landing gear was separated from the airplane. The airplane also suffered damage to the right wing, right elevator, fuselage, propeller, and cowl. The pilot listed no mechanical problems with the airplane that existed prior to the accident.

L-19 hard landing (US Army Aviation Museum photo)

Two days after Christmas 2009, a Bird Dog pilot flying solo apparently forgot to keep flying the aircraft until it is securely tied down or in the hangar. The FAA preliminary report says that at 2100 hrs while landing at Hollywood, FL:

AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, GROUND LOOPED
Highest Injury: None
Damage: Minor

Ground looped L-19 at Ft Rucker (US Army Aviation Museum photo)

Memo to pilots: Ya’ll be careful out there now, y’hear!

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Read more about flying — and landing — the Bird Dog
in my book Cessna Warbirds!