Cessna Crane

Overview

The Cessna T-50 Crane, or Bobcat as it was known in American service, was a light twin-engine trainer procured in large numbers by both the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the United States military during the Second World War. The aircraft was conventional for the period, featuring a low cantilever wing. The aircraft featured a mixed-material construction with the wings and tail made of wood and the fuselage made of welded steel tube. The skin featured a combination of lightweight wood and fabric. The retractable tail wheel and trailing edge flaps were electrically equipped. The type supplemented the Avro Anson in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan service. The Crane provided valuable multi-engine training throughout the Second World War. The vast majority of the Cranes were retired at the end of the war, but a few lingered on in light communication duties.

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.

Technical specifications

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.