Hi there,
My group of three pilots has recently bought this lovely 1946 Cessna 120. Jim Empson commented on a previously uploaded photo of G-BHLW. Does Jim (or anyone else) have any photographs or history on G-BHLW? The aircraft was imported to the UK in 1980.
Best wishes,
Iain.
:
No specific history, but your C120 has several common upgrades. Your Continental C-85-12F engine has a starter and a generator like the C140, and also the rear quarter windows on yours are a common upgrade mod. The C120 originally had a Continental C-85-12 engine.
So, the Cessna 120 model from the factory did not offer the engine starter, generator, battery, wing flaps or the quarter cabin windows of the C140, hence no nav lights and a basic panel in a less deluxe interior Those wheel pants were a $69.50 option, not common. All C120 and C140 aircraft normally came off the production line in bare aluminum, a paint job was $200 extra. A C120 advantage was the lighter empty weight with greater payload, but both had same rated gross weight of 1,450 lbs. Original C120 price-faf $2,495, later raised to $2,695 and to $2,845.
Thanks Doug,
From FAA records I have found that this aircraft was "upgraded" to battery, generator, starter AND SKIS!!! in 1947, less than a year after manufacture.
Iain.