Cessna 303 Crusader

Cessna · United States · first flew 1978 · light aircraft

The Cessna 303 Crusader is a six-seat pressurised-option light twin developed to fill the gap between the 310 and 421, offering counter-rotating propellers and a wide cabin aimed at owner-pilot corporate use.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.27 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Six-seat low-wing twin with counter-rotating engines to eliminate critical engine effects
Continental TSIO-520 engines with turbocharged induction under cuffed cowlings
Wide club-seating cabin with large windows and a ventral airstair door

The 303 is narrower and shorter than the Cessna 421 but wider than the 310; the counter-rotating propellers are not visually obvious without close inspection but the wide fuselage with large oval windows distinguishes it.

Specifications

The Cessna 303 Crusader has a length of 9.27 m (30 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.79 m (39 ft).
Its maximum speed is 385 km/h (239 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots + up to 4 passengers.

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

History

First flown in 1978 and certified as the T303 Crusader in 1981, the type used a new fuselage with counter-rotating Continental TSIO-520-AE engines. Despite strong initial orders, the 303 sold only about 297 examples before production ended in 1984 due to slow demand in a difficult market.

Variants

Produced as the T303 Crusader; a pressurised version was considered but not brought to production.

Where you'll see it

Rare in service today; most surviving examples are in private use in North America, with a handful in European hands.

Related aircraft

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