The Cessna CR-3 custom racer makes its first flight on June 11, 1933. The plane wins the 1933 American Air Race in Chicago and later sets a new world speed record for engines smaller than 500 cubic inches by averaging 237.4 mph.
Johnny Livingston of “Seagull” fame had a CR-3 specially built for him with retractable landing gear, a cantilever wing and a 145 hp Warner engine. It was successfully flown by Johnny Livingstone in every race he entered in 1933.
Eldon Cessna, Clyde’s son, designed the single-seat 19kW Cleone-powered EC-1 and two-seat EC-2 with a 22kW E-107A engine, both intended as low-cost, cheap-to-operate aircraft to meet the new economic conditions. Only the glider achieved production status before the company ceased operations, not to resume until January 1934.
During 1931-33 the company produced several experimental models, and aircraft to special requirements, mostly racers. In 1932 the CR-2 appeared. It was powered by a 145 hp Warner engine and featured a retractable undercarriage and mid-wing. It was flown by Roy Liggett in the American Air Races that year.
During 1931-33 the company produced several experimental models, and aircraft to special requirements, mostly racers. Following the GC-1, the GC-2 of 1930 was a single-seat racer powered by a 110 hp Warner engine.
During 1931-33 the company produced several experimental models, and aircraft to special requirements, mostly racers. A third one-off special was the GC-1 single place racing monoplane, powered by an inverted 95 hp Cirrus Ensign.
During 1931-33 the company produced several experimental models, and aircraft to special requirements, mostly racers. The Cessna FC-1 was a one-off cabin monoplane. The two-place, powered by a 95 hp Cirrus Ensign engine, was used for racing.
During 1931-33 the company produced several experimental models, and aircraft to special requirements, mostly racers. The first was the CPW-6 two-place endurance racer powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine of 420 hp.
Designed by Eldon Cessna, Clyde’s son, the company produced and sold 300 Cessna CG-2 single-seat primary gliders that helped the company through the hard times of the Depression. The company produced 300 CG-2 but finally, at the insistence of the stockholders, the factory was closed although the company still existed. This situation continued through 1931 until 1934.
Cessna rolls out its first six-passenger plane, the Model CW-6, on November 1, 1928.
In November 1928 the CW-6 was flown. A six-seater powered by a 164kW Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine, it appeared at the 1929 Auto Show in Wichita.
The aircraft first flew in November 1928, powered by a 220 hp (164 kW) Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine.
The aircraft was displayed at the 1929 Auto Show in Wichita, Kansas.
The CW-6 was in Mexico when the revolution started, and the Mexican Air Force confiscated it and used it as a bomber against the rebels. When the revolution was crushed the Mexican Government formally purchased the CW-6.
A scaled-down four-seat version, the Cessna DC-6, was also developed.
Engine: 1 × Wright J-6 Whirlwind, 300 hp (220 kW)
Wingspan: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Wing area: 296 sq ft (27.5 sq.m)
Length: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
Empty weight: 2,175 lb (987 kg)
Gross weight: 3,950 lb (1,792 kg)
Fuel capacity: 80 US gal (67 imp gal; 300 L)
Maximum speed: 148 mph (238 km/h; 129 kn)
Cruise speed: 120 mph (193 km/h; 104 kn)
Range: 610 mi (530 nmi; 982 km)
Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m)
Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
Crew: 1
Capacity: 5 passengers
A three-seat version of the Model A was known as the Model BW, of which 13 were built with a 164kW Wright J-5 engine. The first Model BW rolled off the production line in March 1928.
Although the Model BW was a four-seater, it was restricted to three persons as the weight of the 220 hp Wright J-5 produced a forward centre of gravity problem.
The Depression caught up with Cessna in 1930, forcing the factory to suspend production.
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