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Cessna 310
| Cessna 310 | |
|---|---|
| 1965 Cessna 310J | |
| Type | Personal and commercial transportation aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
| Maiden flight | January 3 1953 |
| Primary users | General Aviation United States Air Force United States Army United States Navy |
The Cessna 310 was the first twin-engine aircraft design from Cessna to enter production after World War II.
Contents
Development
The 310 first flew on January 3, 1953 with deliveries starting in late 1954. The sleek modern lines of the new twin were backed up by innovative features such as engine exhaust thrust augmenter tubes and the storage of all fuel in tip tanks in early models. In 1964, the engine exhaust was changed to flow under the wing instead of the augmenter tubes, which were considered to be noisy.
Typical of Cessna model naming conventions, a letter was added after the model number to identify changes to the original design over the years. The first significant upgrade to the 310 series was the 310C in 1959, which introduced more powerful 195 kW (260 hp) Continental IO-470-D engines. In 1960 the 310D featured swept back vertical tail surfaces. An extra cabin window was added with the 310F. The 320 Skyknight was developed from the 310F, which featured turbocharged TSIO-470-B engines and a fourth cabin side-window. The Skyknight was in production between 1961 and 1969 (the 320E was named the Executive Skyknight), when it was replaced by the similar Turbo 310.
The 310G introduced the 'stabilatip' tip tanks, while the 310K replaced the rear two windows with a single unit. Subsequent developments include the 310Q and turbocharged T310Q with redesigned rear cabin with a skylight window, and the final 310R and T310R, identifiable for their lengthened noses. Production ended in 1980.
Over the years there were several modifications to the 310 to improve performance. Noted aircraft engineer Jack Riley produced 2 variants. The Riley Rocket 310 and the Riley Turbostream 310. Only seven of the latter modifications took place and the Riley Turbostream is perhaps the highest performance civilian piston light twin in existence. Riley replaced the standard Continental 310HP engines with Lycoming TIO540 350HP engines. These turbo-charged intercooled engines were installed with 3 blade Hartzell propellers in a counter-rotating configuration to further increase performance and single engine safety. At 5400lbs. gross weight the aircraft had a weight to power ratio of 7.71 lbs. per horsepower. This resulted in a cruising speed of 260 knots at 18,000 feet and a rate of climb 3,000FPM.
Operational history
Commercial applications
The Cessna 310 was a common charter aircraft for the many air taxi firms that sprang up in the general aviation boom that followed World War II. The advantages to the Cessna 310 over its contemporaries, such as the Piper Aztec, were its speed, operating costs and after market modifications such as the Robertson STOL kits which made it popular world wide for its bush flying characteristics. It could access short fields while at the same time carrying a large useful load of 2000 lb. or more at high speeds for a twin engine piston aircraft.
Other competitive planes to the Cessna 310 include the Raytheon (Beech) Baron, the Piper Seneca and arguably, some models of the Aero Commander.
As of 2006, many Cessna 310s are in operation in air taxi service world wide.
Military applications
In 1957, the US Air Force selected the Cessna 310 for service as a light utility aircraft for transport and administrative support. The USAF purchased 160 unmodified 310 aircraft using the original designation L-27A, later changed to U-3A. An additional 35 upgraded U-3B models were delivered in 1960-61; these aircraft were equipped with the more powerful engines used in the 310C, and can be identified by their extra cabin windows, longer nose and swept vertical fin. USAF pilots often referred to the U-3 as the "Blue Canoe."
Variants
- 310
- Production aircraft powered by two 240hp Continental O-470-B engines, 547 built.
- 310A
- Military version of the 310 for the United States Air Force, designated L-27A and later U-3A, 160 built.
- 310B
- 310 with new instrument panel, O-470-M engines and minor changes, 225 built.
- 310C
- 310B with 260hp IO-470-D engines, increased take-off weight and minor changes, 259 built.
- 310D
- 310C with swept vertical tail and minor detail changes, 268 built.
- 310E
- Military version of the 310F, designated the L-27B and later U-3B, 36 built.
- 310F
- 310D with extra cabin window each side, pointed nose, new tip tank shape and other minor changes, 156 built.
- 310G
- 310F with slimline tip tanks, six-seat cabin an increased take-off weight and detail changes, 156 built.
- 310H
- 310G with increased take-off weight and enlarged cain interior, 148 built.
- 310I
- 310H with IO-470-U engines, baggage compartments in rear of engine nacelles and minor detail changes, 200 built.
- 310J
- 310I with minor detailed changes, 200 built.
- 310K
- 310J with long 'vista view' side windows, increased take-off weight and IO-470-V engines, 245 built.
- 310L
- 310K with single-piece windshield, re-designed undercarriage, increased fuel capacity and minor changes, 207 built.
- 310M
- Revised designation for the 310E.
- 310N
- 310L with revised instrument panel, optional fuel tanks in engine nacelles, IO-470-V-O engines and minor changes, 198 built.
- 310P
- 310N with a shorter nose undercarriage leg, ventral fin, and optional turbocharged TSIO-520-B engines, 240 built.
- 310Q
- 310P with take-off weight increased to 5,300lb and detailed changes, from the 401st aircraft fitted with a bulged rear cabin roof with rear view window, 1160 built.
- 310R
- 310Q with three-bladed propellers, lengthened nose with baggage compartment, 5,500lb take-off weight and 285hp IO-520-M engines, 1332 built.
- 310S
- Original designation for the Cessna 320.
- 320 Skynight
- Enlarged version of the 310F with six seats, larger cabin and two turbocharged engines, 110 built.
- 320A Skynight
- 320 with stabil-tip fuel tanks and minor changes, 47 built.
- 320B Skynight
- 320A with nacelle baggage lockers and minor changes, 62 built.
- 320C Skynight
- 320B with a longer cabin, optional seventh seat and minor changes, 73 built.
- 320D Executive Skynight
- 320C with reshaped rear windows and 285hp TSIO-520-B engines, 130 built.
- 320E Executive Skynight
- 320D with pointed nose, single piece windshield, modified undercarriage, increased take-off weight and minor changes, 110 built.
- 320F Executive Skynight
- 320E with minor changes, 45 built.
- L-27A
- United States military designation for the 310A, later changed to U-3A.
- L-27B
- United States military designation for the 310E/310M, later changed to U-3B.
- U-3A
- L-27A redesignated in 1963.
- U-3B
- L-27B redesignated in 1963.
Operators
Military
Countries known to have operated the U-3/310 include Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, United States (US Air Force United States Navy & US Army), Venezuela, Uruguay and Zaire.
Incidents
On Tuesday July 10, 2007, a Cessna 310, originating from Daytona Beach International Airport, Florida en route to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport crashed into two homes in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando, killing five people -- the pilot, his passenger, and three people inside the houses.[1] The pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and attempted an emergency landing at nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport.
NASCAR said the pilot of the plane was Michael Klemm, a senior captain with NASCAR Aviation. His passenger was Dr. Bruce Kennedy, husband of International Speedway Corporation president Lesa France Kennedy, the daughter of the longtime head of NASCAR, Bill France, Jr., who died in June. They were the only two people on the plane, according to both NASCAR and the NTSB. Four people also were injured, three of whom were critically burned, authorities said. As of January 2008, the accident is still being investigated.
Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.- Seats: 6 (including 1 pilot), 4 total in early models
- Length: 23 ft 11 in (9.7 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 11 in (11.2 m)
- Height: 10 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
- Empty weight: 3,347 lb (1,518 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
- Maximum speed: 238 mph (383 km/h)
- Range: 1,440 mi (2,668 km)
- Powerplant: 2 Continental IO-470-M flat-6 piston engines
- Power: 240 hp (179 kW) each
Popular Culture
The Cessna 310-B Songbird, registration N5348A, gained fame from being featured in the popular TV show Sky King during the late 1950s.
References
External links
See also
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- Post-1962 US DoD:
- U-1 Otter - U-2 - U-3 - U-4 - U-5 Twin Courier - U-6 Beaver
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Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cessna 310". |
