Cessna 120

Single Piston· 657 globally registered

The Cessna 120 is a two-seat, single-engine tailwheel aircraft that emerged in 1946 as Cessna's entry into the postwar general aviation boom. Designed as an affordable trainer and personal aircraft for returning veterans, the 120 shared its basic airframe with the slightly more upscale Cessna 140 but featured fabric-covered wings instead of metal and a more spartan interior to keep costs down. Powered by an 85-horsepower Continental C-85 engine, it was built for simplicity and economy rather than speed or range, making it an ideal first airplane for thousands of pilots learning to fly in the late 1940s. Cessna produced approximately 2,000 Model 120s between 1946 and 1949, when production shifted entirely to the 140 and its successors. The type's light wing loading, docile handling, and forgiving stall characteristics made it a favorite among tailwheel instructors, and its straightforward tube-and-fabric construction meant that owner-maintained examples could remain airworthy for decades with relatively modest expense. Today the 120 is prized in the vintage aircraft community for its classic lines, honest flying qualities, and the pure stick-and-rudder skills it demands: no electrical system, no flaps, no nosewheel, just a pilot, a stick, and the sky. With a never-exceed speed of 140 knots and a stall speed around 38 knots in landing configuration, it operates in a leisurely flight envelope that rewards precision over haste. SkyMeter has tracked 147 flights across 51 airframes and 48 operators, with MEES MARTIN B among the most active observed owners.