Cessna 308
{{Short description|American light aircraft prototype}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{one source|date=April 2017}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name= Cessna 308 | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type= Military light transport | national origin= United States | manufacturer= Cessna | designer= | first flight= July 1951 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= United States Army | number built= 1 | developed from= Cessna O-1 Bird Dog | variants with their own articles= | developed into = }} |
The Cessna 308 was a prototype military light transport aircraft based on the successful O-1 Bird Dog (Cessna 305) observation aircraft. Only one aircraft was completed, and the project did not proceed further due to a lack of orders.{{cite web|url = http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/features/article.asp?id=461|title = The Cessnas that got away|accessdate = 2008-12-22|last = Murphy|first = Daryl|year = 2006|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090227001732/http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/features/article.asp?id=461|archivedate = 27 February 2009|url-status = dead}}
Development
The Cessna 308 was conceived as an enlarged model 305 that would carry four people for the military light transport role and was developed in response to a US Army requirement.
The resulting design was first flown in July 1951. While the aircraft was based on the model 305, it incorporated a four-place cabin similar to the then current production Cessna 170. The prototype was powered by a Lycoming GSO-580 geared, supercharged, eight-cylinder engine, producing {{convert|375|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The prototype featured a {{convert|47|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} wingspan, taildragger landing gear and a {{convert|4200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross take-off weight. In trials the 308 proved capable of operating from rough fields carrying a {{convert|1000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} payload, with a range of {{convert|695|nmi|km|0|abbr=on}}.
The US Army chose the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver for the intended light transport role putting it into service as the L-20A. As a result, development of the Cessna 308 was not continued beyond the completion of a single prototype.
Specifications (Cessna 308 prototype)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Cessnas that got away
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
- 3 passengers
- {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} cargo
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=
|span ft=47
|span in=0
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=4200
|fuel capacity=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Lycoming GSO-580
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=375
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=695
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014144705/http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/photos/cessna/dm/got-away/Cessna308.jpg Cessna 308 photo]
{{Cessna 140 family}}
{{Cessna}}
Category:1950s United States military utility aircraft
Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1951