A four seat development of the T 37A CE airframe, the forward fuselage redesigned to take four persons in pressurised cabin. Entry to cabin via large door in starboard side. Rear seats removable for cargo or special mission equipment.
Powered by two Continental C 356 9 turbojets, the prototype (N34267 serial number 627) first flew September 1959 and later modified with bulbous radar nose. One only built.
By utilizing many of the same components and tooling as the T-37, much of the necessary development work could be avoided. Building a full-scale wooden mock-up and beginning construction of the first prototype, the marketing group began a sales tour, pitching the concept at various locations around the U.S.
Outwardly similar to the T-37, the 407 utilized the same tail section and wing as the jet trainer but repositioned the engine nacelles 9 inches outward to create more internal space. The cabin utilized this additional space to accommodate four passengers and their baggage. Occupants could easily step into the low-slung cabin without the need for separate steps or ladders, a welcome change from the MS.760, which required occupants to climb a stepladder and clamber into the cockpit from above.
The 407 would incorporate a pressurized cabin for passenger comfort. This helped to enable a rather impressive service ceiling of 46,400 feet. At a more typical cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, the 407’s cabin altitude would have been maintained at a reasonable 8,000 feet.
With a 4,657-pound empty weight and 9,300-pound gross weight, the team boasted a range of 1,380 nm and a maximum level speed of 423 knots. The stall speed was listed as a relatively low 84 knots, making the jet capable of accessing runways of around 3,000 feet in length.
Ultimately, the 407 was not to be. The mock-up pictured was, in fact, a T-37 with a wooden cabin section. And while construction of actual cabin sections was underway, the entire 407 project was abandoned in favor of the Citation family, the first of which flew in 1969. Interestingly, the FAA registry shows that Cessna registered a 407 as N34267.
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