Page 27 - Volume 14 Number 1

significantly improving visibility for all cabin occupants. The C-37’s wind-driven Hodge generator in the right- wing leading edge was retained as standard equipment.
The C-38’s maximum speed was 162 mph at sea level with a cruise speed of 143 mph at 75% power setting. Price increased slightly to $6,490 for a standard airplane. The float-equipped version sold for $10,000 and featured complete corrosion proofing of the fuselage tubing and float fittings.
The CAA issued Cessna’s new Airmaster ATC 668 June 25, 1938. Only 16 of these airplanes were built before production was terminated in August of that year in favor of developing the next and final version, the Cessna C-145 and C-165.1
It was difficult to improve on the Airmaster because the basic design was sound and only minor refinements were considered. The chief change was the availability of two powerplants – the 145-horsepower Warner Scarab and the 165-horsepower version of the seven-cylinder radial engine. Initially, the airplane’s designation was
to be C-39, but was changed to Cessna C-145 or C-165 depending on the engine installed. The prototype C-145 was completed in September 1938 with the C-165 following in April 1939.
The fuselage of both aircraft were lengthened to 25 feet from the C-38’s 24 feet, 8-inches, and empty weight increased to 1,380 pounds for the C-145 and 1,400 pounds for the C-165. Gross weight, however, was the same for both versions at 2,350 pounds. The cable- operated mechanical wheel brakes were replaced by a hydraulically actuated system operated by heel pedals in the cockpit. Only minor changes were made to the wings to accommodate flaps that were mounted immediately aft of the midchord point on the lower surface. The flaps were actuated electrically and were synchronized to extend and retract together. The aft cabin windows were curved to improve appearance and provided a slight increase in viewing area.
To increase the number of paint options, the company offered 27 different colors for the new Airmaster, including
Introduced late in 1938, the new C-145 Airmaster featured larger rear cabin windows and a comfortable cabin for up to five occupants. This airplane was sold to Ignacio Nogueira, registered in Brazil as PP-THE, and based in Rio de Janeiro.
(Robert J. Pickett Collection)
JANUARY 2020
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 25