Cessna 337 Skymaster

Twin Piston

The Cessna 337 Skymaster is one of aviation's most distinctive light twins, instantly recognizable by its push-pull centerline engine configuration: one tractor propeller on the nose, one pusher at the tail. Introduced in 1965, this unconventional layout solved the most dangerous problem facing conventional twin pilots: asymmetric thrust after an engine failure. With both engines mounted on the fuselage centerline, the Skymaster eliminates the yawing moment that causes loss-of-control accidents in traditional twins, making single-engine handling straightforward enough that it earned a reputation as the safest twin-engine aircraft for low-time pilots. Cessna built more than 2,000 Skymasters in various configurations between 1965 and 1982, including the pressurized P337 and the military O-2 variant used extensively as a forward air control platform in Vietnam. The O-2 carried smoke rockets under the wings and flew low and slow over the jungle, marking targets for strike aircraft, a mission that demanded reliability and the ability to limp home on one engine. The civilian 337 found favor with aerial survey operators, pipeline patrol pilots, and owner-fliers who valued the safety margin of twin-engine redundancy without the demanding handling characteristics of conventional twins. Performance is modest by twin standards: cruise around 170 knots on both engines, service ceiling near 19,000 feet, and a range of roughly 1,000 nautical miles with reserves. The rear engine runs hotter than the front and requires careful monitoring, and parts availability has become challenging as the fleet ages, but the type remains popular among pilots who appreciate its unique engineering solution to the twin-engine safety problem. SkyMeter has tracked 77 flights across 34 airframes and 32 operators, with GILL ROBERT S, NICHOLES DAVID L the largest observed operator.