Cessna 140

Single Piston· 1,837 globally registered

The Cessna 140 is a classic post-World War II two-seat taildragger that helped democratize general aviation in the late 1940s. Built between 1946 and 1950, the 140 was Cessna's answer to returning servicemen and a booming civilian flight training market: an affordable, rugged airplane that could be flown off grass strips and maintained in barn hangars across rural America. Powered by an 85-horsepower Continental C-85 engine, it featured fabric-covered wings, a welded steel-tube fuselage, and conventional landing gear that demanded real stick-and-rudder skills. The 140 was essentially a refined version of the 120, adding flaps and a bit more panel space, and it became a beloved trainer and weekend flyer for a generation of pilots. With a cruise speed around 90 knots and a range of roughly 450 miles, the 140 was never fast or long-legged, but it was honest, forgiving, and cheap to operate. Nearly 5,000 were built before production ended in 1950, replaced by the tricycle-gear Cessna 150 a decade later. Today the 140 remains a sought-after vintage aircraft, prized by tailwheel enthusiasts and warbird-adjacent collectors who appreciate its simplicity and direct connection to the golden age of light aviation. SkyMeter has tracked 399 flights across 136 airframes and 135 operators, with ROBERTS NIGEL C the largest observed operator.