Cessna 165

The Cessna Model C-165 Airmaster is a single-engine aircraft manufactured by the Cessna Aircraft Company. The Airmaster played an important role in the revitalization of the Cessna aircraft company in the 1930s after the crash of the aviation industry during the Great Depression.

Initial model


In the middle of the 1930s, as the Great Depression came to an end, the U.S. economy began to strengthen. This was good news for the Cessna Aircraft Company as Dwane Wallace (Clyde Cessna's nephew who was a recently-graduated aeronautical engineer) decided to assist his uncle in building more modern airplanes. The design of the first Airmaster is credited to Dwane L. Wallace, and the first flight of the C-34 model was in June 1935. Not long after introduction of the C-34, Clyde Cessna retired from aircraft-building activity, leaving the company to his nephew.

Later models
The original Airmaster, the C-34, evolved into more advanced versions of the Airmaster. The C-37 had a wider cabin, improved undercarriage and electric flaps. The C-38 had a taller vertical tail, curved undercarriage legs and a landing flap under the fuselage. Changes common to both the C-37 and C-38 included wider fuselages and landing gears along with rubber engine mounts to hold the 145 hp Warner Super Scarab engine. The final revisions of the C-34 were the C-145 and the C-165, of which 80 were built. On these models, the belly flaps added on the C-38 were removed and the overall length of the fuselage was increased. The only difference between the C-145 and C-165 was the engine horsepower, with the latter having an upgraded 165 hp Warner engine.

End of the line
It was with the beginning of World War II that the Airmaster line came to an end. The welded tubular fuselage, fabric covered body, extensive wood work, wooden wings and radial engines, all characteristic of 1930s-era aircraft technology, became too expensive and slow to produce. The old style aircraft was quickly replaced with aircraft constructed from aluminium with strut braced wings first seen in the Cessna 120.

Design
The design of the C-34 incorporates characteristics that were borrowed from previous models of Cessna Aircraft. These similarities include the high mounted cantilever wing and the narrow design of the cabin windows. The wings and tail surfaces were composed entirely of wood while the fuselage was structured with steel tubing coupled with wooden stringers and formers. Both C-145 and C-165 models were offered with floats.

Variants

 * C-34: Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 145-hp (108-kW) Warner Super Scarab radial piston engine; 42 built.
 * C-37: the cabin was widened by 12.7 cm (5 in), it was fitted with an improved undercarriage and electrically operated flaps; 46 built.
 * C-38: Fitted with a wide landing gear with curved undercarriage legs, plus a taller vertical tail and a landing flap under the fuselage; 16 built.
 * C-39: Original designation of the Cessna C-145.
 * C-145: Powered by a 145-hp (108-kW) Warner Super Scarab radial piston engine.
 * C-165: Powered by a 165-hp (123-kW) Warner Super Scarab radial piston engine.
 * C-165D: Powered by a 175-hp (130-kW) Warner Super Scarab radial piston engine.
 * UC-77B: Two Cessna C-34s were impressed into service with the USAF during world War II.
 * UC-77C: One Cessna C-37 was impressed into service with the USAAF in 1942.
 * UC-94: Three Cessna C-165s were impressed into service with the USAAF in 1942.

Military operators

 * Royal Australian Air Force
 * Finnish Air Force
 * United States Army Air Forces
 * Finnish Air Force
 * United States Army Air Forces
 * United States Army Air Forces

Survivors
As of December 31, 2006 there are 69 aircraft in the FAA database with the listed Models (totals) being C-165 (30), C-145 (10), C-34 (8), C-37 (14), and C-38 (7). All are listed as powered by either the Warner SS165 or Warner SS40&50 engines (except that one is listed as powered by an SS185). The year of manufacture for these aircraft ranges from 1934 to 1941 and the serial numbers range from 254 to 588. It is not known how many actually exist and are in flying condition. There is also a C-34 (Serial No. 339) which is registered on the Australian register (VH-UYG), this aircraft is owned by Aeromil and housed at the Sunshine Coast Airport, Queensland.
 * Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum Has an airworthy 1940 C-165