The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft. The T-41A, used by the USAF for introductory training of pilot candidates with little or no flying experience, was a commercial off-the-shelf 172 with few modifications. Upgraded versions of the T-41 with more powerful engines and more specialized equipment were based on the Cessna 175 derivative of the 172, including the T-41B for the Army, T-41C for the USAF Academy, and the T-41D for the U.S. Military Aid Program. The single-engine piston T-41 entered service in the 1960s and was mostly withdrawn by the USAF by 1995, but some remain in limited military service today, and some military surplus examples are flown by civil owners.
Design and development
thumb|left|The first production [[Cessna 172|Cessna R172E operating as a T-41B Mescalero with the US Army]]
In 1964, the US Air Force (USAF) decided to use the commercial off-the-shelf Cessna 172F as a lead-in aircraft for student pilots rather than starting them out in the T-37 jet aircraft. The USAF ordered 237 T-41As from Cessna. The first USAF class (67-A) of students began training on the T-41 from the civilian airport in Big Spring, Texas, in August 1965.
In 1968, the USAF acquired 52 of the more powerful T-41Cs, which used Continental IO-360 and a fixed-pitch climb propeller, for use at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).
Four T-41s remained at the Air Force Academy for the USAFA Flying Team, as well as to support certain academic classes.
A number of air forces, including Saudi Arabia and Singapore, purchased various civilian models of the Cessna 172 for use in military training, transport, and liaison roles. While similar to the T-41 and named as such, these aircraft were not actually T-41s from a technical standpoint and were powered by the standard 172 powerplants available in the model year purchased, including the Continental O-300 in pre-1968 aircraft and the Lycoming O-320 in later 172s.
;T-41A
:United States Air Force version of the Cessna 172F, 172G, and 172H for undergraduate pilot training, powered by 145 hp Continental O-300.
;T-41C
:USAF Academy version with a 14V electrical system, fixed-pitch propeller, civilian avionics, and only the two front seats. 52 total built; 45 as the R172E and 7 as the R172F.
;B.F.14
:() Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the T-41D.
Operators
thumb|right|[[Argentine Army Cessna T-41D Mescalero]]
;
- Argentine Army Aviation (10× T-41D in service)
;
- Hellenic Air Force (T-41A, 21× T-41D, retired )
; Kingdom of Laos
- Royal Lao Air Force (T-41B, T-41D)
thumb|T-41DM of Peru
;
- Peruvian Air Force (25× T-41A)
;
- Republic of Korea Air Force (15× T-41D)
- Turkish Land Forces (25× T-41D)
thumb|T-41D of the USAFA Flying Team
;
- United States Army (255× T-41B)
- Kirtland AFB Aeroclub/Kirtland AFB, New Mexico - 5 x T-41C (all 5 currently airworthy)
- Patuxent River Navy Flying Club/NAS Patuxent River, Maryland - 3 x T-41C (1 currently airworthy)
- Eglin AFB Aeroclub/Eglin AFB, FL - 2 x T-41A, 1 x T-41B (1 T-41A and 1 T-41B currently airworthy)
- Travis AFB Aero Club/Travis AFB, CA - 1 x T-41A, 1 x T-41C (currently airworthy)
- Dover AFB Aero Club/Dover AFB, DE - 2 x T-41A, 1x T-41C (currently airworthy)
Aircraft on display
thumb|Singapore T-41 on display at museum
;Singapore
- 110 - T-41A on static display at the Singapore Air Force Museum in Paya Lebar Air Base
;United States
- 65-5168 – T-41A on static display in the airpark at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
- 65-5251 – T-41A on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft was previously assigned to the United States Air Force Academy inventory.
- 67-14977 – T-41A on static display as part of the Officer Training School complex at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
Specifications (T-41C)
thumb|Continental IO-360-D six-cylinder engine
See also
- Applebay GA-111 Mescalero (Glider with same nickname)