Cessna 337 Skymaster
Cessna · United States · first flew 1961 · light aircraft
The Cessna 337 Skymaster is a twin-engine light aircraft with a unique push-pull centreline-thrust configuration, with one engine in the nose and one in the rear fuselage. This eliminates the asymmetric thrust problems of conventional twin-engine aircraft during single-engine failures.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.07 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Centreline-thrust push-pull twin with one engine front and one rear
- Twin-boom tail with twin fins
- High wing and retractable undercarriage
Unique centreline-thrust layout, twin-boom tail with twin vertical fins, and high wing make the Skymaster instantly recognisable. Nothing else in its class has this configuration.
Specifications
- The Cessna 337 Skymaster has a length of 9.07 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.63 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 322 km/h (200 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 5 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Cessna developed the Skymaster in the late 1950s to offer twin-engine safety without the handling complexity of asymmetric thrust. The Model 336 fixed-gear prototype flew in 1961; the retractable-gear 337 followed in 1964. A military observation version, the O-2 Skymaster, served extensively in Vietnam for forward air control. Over 2,900 examples of all variants were built.
Variants
Model 336 (fixed gear), 337 (retractable), 337 Pressurised Skymaster, and the military O-2A/B. Reims Aviation produced the FTB-337 in France for European markets.
Where you'll see it
Popular with private owners, air taxi operators, and in missionary aviation. The O-2 served USAF and South Vietnamese forces in Vietnam and is still used by some air forces.
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