General Aviation

Cessna 150/152

Manufacturer: Cessna

The Cessna 150 is a two‑seat, tricycle‑gear general‑aviation airplane designed for flight training, touring, and personal use. It became the fifth most produced aircraft worldwide, with 23,839 units built between 1958 and 1977.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
cessna-150-152
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
9,650
Example Registration
C-GNBL

Specifications

Wingspan
10.11 m / 33.17 ft
Length
7.29 m / 23.92 ft
Height
2.59 m / 8.5 ft
Max Speed
202 km/h / 125 mph
Cruise Speed
152 km/h / 94 mph
Range
780 km / 480 mi
Ceiling
4300 m / 14000 ft
First Flight
1957
Production Start
1958
Production End
1977
Total Built
23839

Aircraft Overview

History

Development began in the mid‑1950s as a successor to the Cessna 140. The prototype, initially called the 142, first flew on 12 September 1957 and was renamed the 150 in October. Production started in September 1958 at Wichita, Kansas, and continued until 1977 when the closely related 152 replaced it. Production of the 152 ended in 1985, and in 2007 Cessna announced the Model 162 Skycatcher as the next successor.

Design

The 150 features tricycle landing gear, squared‑off wing tips, and larger Fowler flaps that improve lift. It is powered by a 100‑hp Continental O‑200‑A engine. The 152 introduced a more economical Lycoming O‑235 engine, a higher gross weight of 1,670 lb, and a reduced flap deflection of 30° for better climb performance. Later variants added electric flaps, a swept tail fin, and larger cabin doors for increased baggage space.

Variants

Key variants include the Standard, Trainer (dual controls), Inter‑City Commuter, Patroller (long‑range fuel tanks), Commuter II, Aerobat (strengthened for aerobatics), and the 150F (electric flaps, swept tail). The 150G was the first float‑plane certified version. The 152 replaced the 150 in 1977, and the 150M was the final 150 variant produced before the shift to the 152.

Operations

The aircraft is widely used by flight schools and private owners for training and leisure flying. It has also been operated by several military air forces, including the United States Air Force Academy, and by air forces in countries such as Burundi, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka.

Notable Facts

  • The Cessna 150 is the fifth most produced aircraft, with 23,839 units built worldwide.
  • Production began in 1958 and continued until 1977, when the 152 replaced it.
  • The 150F variant introduced electric flaps and a swept tail fin in 1966.
  • The 150G was the first 150 variant certified for floatplane use.
  • The 152 model used a more economical Lycoming O‑235 engine and had a higher gross weight of 1,670 lb.
  • The 150M was the final 150 variant, with 3,836 built before production shifted to the 152.
  • The aircraft was popular with flight schools and private owners, and was also operated by several military air forces.

Variants

  • 152- 1,639 registrations - Example G-BRNE
  • 150L- 1,449 registrations - Example N10013
  • 150M- 1,436 registrations - Example C-GNBL
  • 150F- 1,062 registrations - Example N1114T
  • 150G- 979 registrations - Example N104JV
  • 150H- 757 registrations - Example N1016J
  • 150J- 657 registrations - Example N1014M
  • 150- 386 registrations - Example N100UD
  • 150K- 303 registrations - Example N101FL
  • 150E- 302 registrations - Example N150MK
  • 150D- 258 registrations - Example N1081W
  • 150C- 166 registrations - Example N14TX
  • 150A- 122 registrations - Example N1400U
  • 150B- 110 registrations - Example N1102Y
  • 150A- 12 registrations - Example N150AK
  • 150CC YAK 54- 2 registrations - Example N531NU
  • 1521M- 2 registrations - Example N293BR
  • CESSNA 150K- 2 registrations - Example N31063
  • 150- 1 registrations - Example N20912
  • 1500MM MOA GLIDER- 1 registrations - Example N7915K
  • 1500R- 1 registrations - Example N8932H
  • 150B- 1 registrations - Example N156EA
  • 1521- 1 registrations - Example N2510P
  • 1521 C1- 1 registrations - Example N309MD

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources