The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

Hello!
New guy with new guy questions. 1) Any difference in performance between similarly equipped models? 2)Does the A handle significantly differently then the non-A? 3)The aircraft will be parked outside in North Georgia for the time being; wait listed for a hanger. If I cover the wings with the right cover, will the fabric hold up well? I owned a Citabria and Pacer up in AK, only covered the wings in the winter. No one seemed to care about it ins the summer.

Thanks
Scott MacKie
Woodstock, GA

Welcome to the association and forum Scott. The 140A model was the first one produced with metal wings, so you will not have the fabric concerns with them. As to the 140s, any direct sunlight UV rays can reduce the longevity of the fabric. Covers like on your previous aircraft would obviously help. Moisture on exposed aluminum corrodes it much faster as well.

As to performance, while the 140A was produced with a Continental 90, the metal wings reduce its performance slightly from a 140 with the same engine. 140s with a Continental 85 will also have a slight decrease in performance over ones with the C90. There are other engines out there that some have such as the Continental 0-200. I defer to those who have those post-production installed engine types to speak to them. I am still learning a lot about these planes myself.

Steve

Steve,
Thanks, I appreciate your response. I figgered' as much on the weight. Both of the airplanes I'm considering have an 0-200 in them. Until a hanger opens up, it'll be parked outside. If I go the fabric wing route, it'll have covers. One wonders about hail (bounces off fabric, dents metal), sun (blech on fabric), etc.

Having grown up around aviation in AK, I can tell you that the sun is not NEARLY as destructive to fabric in AK as it is in AZ, for example - distance and intensity, perhaps.

My all original 140 with C85 performs (with just me) about like my mechanic’s 120 with an O-200 with both of us. That’s about the best example of performance differences I can give.

Not a HUGE difference but noticed.