DESIGN BRIEF
The Cessna 336 prototype flew for the first time on 28 February 1961. A result of several years of study by Cessna for an easy-to-fly, economical twin in the
business aircraft market. A unique design with a tandem engine arrangement, the 210 HP Continental IO-360 six-cylinder powerplant forward of the cabin operated in the traditional tractor mode, while behind the
cabin a similar powerplant operated in pusher mode. Cessna accomodated the rear engine installation by designing a twin boom fuselage, connected at the tail surfaces
by the horizontal stabilizer. By January, 1965, 195 Skymasters had been delivered, with the model 337 Super Skymaster supplanted these on the production line the following month.
The Super Skymaster offered rectractable landing gear and other improvements, and production of 560 of this model was accomplished in just under two years. The Turbo System Super Skymaster was soon
introduced with 210 HP TSIO-360 turbosupercharged engines and a six-outlet oxygen sytem.
On 8 December 1971 Cessna introduced the T337 Pressurized Skymaster, and deliveries began in May, 1972. Cessna claimed the aircraft to be the world's cheapest pressurized twin, with cruising altitude of
20,000 ft. being possible. Either of the 225 HP Continental TSIO-360C engines were able to maintain full cabin pressurization. The pressurization system was easy to use,
with the pilot simply setting the altitudes of the departure and destination airports into the system. The pressurized Skymasters are easy to distinguish from the non-pressurized variants by their rounded cabin windows.
More than 2,500 civilian Skymasters/Super Skymasters were built by Cessna in the USA and by Reims in France before production ended in 1980. The aircraft has been subject to continued evolution and refinement by third-party firms
such as Riley, who currently produce the Riley Rocket II. Specifications for this high-flyer may be found HERE.
The Military model M337. The initial contract for 145 O-2A Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft was issued 29 December 1966, and a contract for 31 O-2B psychological warfare platforms was issued on the same date. Cessna delivered 12
O-2As to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in early 1970. Total production of military Skymasters exceeded 510 aircraft.
|
