Cessna CR-3

Cessna · United States · first flew 1933 · light aircraft

The Cessna CR-3 was a purpose-built American air racing aircraft developed in 1933, featuring an extremely short-span cantilever high wing and a powerful engine for pylon racing competition. It represented Cessna's foray into pure racing aircraft design.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Very short wingspan relative to fuselage length
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Cessna 1930s air racer with cantilever high wing
Tiny span designed for speed pylon racing
Very short wingspan relative to fuselage length

Extremely compact high-wing monoplane with an unusually short wingspan almost equal to the fuselage length. The tiny wing and large engine cowling give it a distinctive stubby appearance unlike any production Cessna.

Specifications

The Cessna CR-3 has a length of 5.18 m (17 ft).
It has a wingspan of 5.61 m (18 ft).
Its maximum speed is 410 km/h (255 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Cessna built the CR-3 specifically to compete in the closed-course pylon racing events popular in 1930s America. The very short wingspan and streamlined fuselage reduced drag while a powerful engine provided exceptional speed. The CR-3 demonstrated Cessna's engineering prowess but was a specialised racing machine rather than a practical civil aircraft. Only one or two examples were built.

Variants

The CR-3 was a one-off or very limited racer; no production variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

Used exclusively for air racing in the United States in the early 1930s. Not adopted for any commercial or military purpose.

Related aircraft

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