67-15000 The first Cessna T-41B delivered to the Army

[L-4Pilot]

Photographed as it sits tied outside on the ramp at the Alabama Aviation Technical College, Ozark, Airport, 67-15000 was the very first of the 255 T-41B aircraft built for the Army. The years and elements have not been kind to her.

[lmritger]

Seems to me that would be among the most straightforward of necessary warbird restorations, given the ubiquitous nature of Cessna parts. I'm assuming like everything else, it's a matter of funding?

Lynn

[JohnB]

Sadly, most aviation technical colleges don't really care about the ex-military aircraft they receive. To them, they're teaching aids , nothing more,.

The one here had a T-33, F-86H parts taken from a MD-ANG example given to a local school and H-23...plus a neat teaching rig made out of H-23 rotor system...back in the 70s, they're all gone now. Currently, they have bits of a couple of O-2s about. Over at Grant County airport they have a very nice TH-13T...but it doesn't fly along with bits of H-13 wreckage and a stripped non-flying Huey.

A local Church-sponsored aviation school has a ex-Army U-21...a non pressurized King Air as a trainer. they teach students how to maintain PT-6s with it. It's still in its Army colors, but someone has painted its windows so they look round, giving it the look of a King Air. It looks to be in great shape.

Few of these aircraft will ever be restored or valued as warbirds. For many, it's just a decades long delay to the scrap yard.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

A Mescalero wouldn't cruise at "148 mph" if you dropped it out of a C-130.

[L-4Pilot]

A Mescalero wouldn't cruise at "148 mph" if you dropped it out of a C-130.

Here is the chart at 7,500, you would have to get to 9,500 to see 147 mph. My T-41B is a little faster than my C-177B 180 hp Cardinal was. I flight planed 140 mph on it. The T-41B is a lot faster than a normal 172 due to the 210 hp and constant speed prop.