Cessna 120

Cessna · United States · first flew 1946 · light aircraft

The Cessna 120 is a two-seat high-wing light aircraft produced by Cessna Aircraft Company from 1946, designed as an economical post-war personal aircraft. It is closely related to the Cessna 140 but with fewer amenities.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Fabric-covered wings with all-metal fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Post-war two-seat high-wing Cessna lightplane
Fabric-covered wings with all-metal fuselage
No electrical system in base configuration

A small, strut-braced high-wing monoplane with a rounded fuselage, side-by-side seating, and fabric-covered tapered wings; distinguished from the 140 by lack of flaps and a simpler interior.

Specifications

The Cessna 120 has a length of 6.55 m (21 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Cessna introduced the 120 alongside the 140 in 1946 to meet anticipated post-war demand from returning pilots. Over 2,000 examples were built before production ended in 1949, making it a popular starter aircraft in the United States.

Variants

The 120 differed from the 140 primarily in having fabric-covered wings and no flaps; the 140 added metal wings and a rear seat window. Both shared the Continental C-85 engine.

Where you'll see it

The Cessna 120 served widely in the United States general aviation community from the late 1940s; many examples survive and remain airworthy today in private hands.

Related aircraft

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