How to determine production year of a 120?

[8413]

I’m in the process of purchasing a 120. Serial number 12035. I believe it is a 1947 model based on the serial number. However the current owner was led to believe it’s a 46’. Also one of the airframe logs says 46’. Is the serial number the thing to go by?

[6183]

Look at Cessna Service Letter SLN94-06 (you can google it). It gives the serial number runs for all the 120, 140, and 140A models.

[8413]

Thanks. I had that same info from one of the newsletters. That’s why I believe this 120 with serial number 12085 is a 47’ model. 1947 had serial numbers 11847-14370. I just wasn’t sure if there was some other way to identify the year since there seems to be a conflict between the logs and the serial number. Maybe whoever filled out the log was mistaken.

[6643]

The aircraft data plate will have the date of manufacture on it.

[8413]

Thanks John!

[6183]

The aircraft data plate will have the date of manufacture on it.

Must be a 120 and early 140 thing, 140A’s don’t have the date of manufacture on the data plate.

[8233]

I refer to my 120 as a 46/47 hybrid. It was made on 12/17/46 per the logs and data plate but the serial number is 11919 which is a 47 per SLN94-06. Some of my parts like the cowling are the 47. The IPC says the cowl subassembly is different for the 47 120 but also calls out a SN starting at 11843 and I can visually see by the rivets that I have a 47 version.

[8413]

David, looks like mine is similar. Built at the end of 46’ with a 47’ serial number. Ours were built 6 days apart it looks like. Mine was built 12/23/46 with a serial number of 12035.

[simonlowther]

Perhaps the association could look at an online register of aircraft for those whom wish to opt in, given that we are all this year and for the next 3 years all hitting the 75 year mark its front of mind. A page with columns s/n | type | country | reg | current owner might be of interest historically.

Out of interest mine is s/n 11102 built 31 Oct 1946, I'm going to have a birthday party for her.

cheers
Si

[6643]

I believe that's all available in the membership directory, but I also believe a decision was made not to put that on line.