Cessna 402 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cessna 401 & 402
Rijkswaterstaat Cessna 402
Role	Corporate transport and airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Cessna
First flight	August 26, 1965
Introduction	1967
Primary user	Cape Air
Produced	1966–1985
Developed from	Cessna 411

The Cessna 401 and 402 are types of small airplanes. They usually have 6 to 10 seats. These planes use two piston engines, which are like car engines but for aircraft.

A cool thing about these planes is that all the seats can be taken out easily. This means the aircraft can quickly change from carrying people to carrying cargo. The Cessna 401 and 402 were not built to fly super fast. Instead, they were designed to be affordable to buy and cheap to fly.

How They Were Designed

The Cessna 401 and 402 were created as twin-engine planes that were not "pressurized." This means the air inside the cabin isn't specially pumped in to feel like ground level at high altitudes. They were meant to be strong "workhorse" planes. This made them useful for carrying cargo or for small airlines that fly short routes.

These planes were an improved version of an earlier model, the Cessna 411. One main goal for the 401/402 was to make them easier to control if one engine stopped working. Another goal was to avoid using the expensive and tricky engines found in the Cessna 411.

Cessna 401s and 402s are powered by two 300 horsepower (224 kW) turbocharged engines. Turbocharged engines use exhaust gases to make the engine more powerful, especially at higher altitudes. They also have special propellers that can change their angle (called "constant speed" propellers). This helps the plane fly more smoothly. On newer models, the engines were sometimes set to run at 75% power. This helped make the cabin quieter. Some planes even had a "propeller synchrophaser." This device makes sure both propellers spin at exactly the same speed. This helps reduce noise and shaking inside the plane.

How They Were Developed

The Cessna 402 first came out in 1967. At the same time, a version without a large cargo door, called the Cessna 401, was also made. The government agency that checks airplanes, the FAA, approved the Cessna 401 in October 1968. They approved the 402 in January 1969.

In 1969, the front "nose" of the 402 was made longer. This gave the plane more space for luggage. This new model was called the 402A. The 401 model kept its original, shorter nose.

By 1970, some small changes were made to the planes. Also, you could choose to have bigger fuel tanks. These new tanks could hold 184 US gallons (696 L) of fuel. This model was named the 402B. By 1971, not many 401s were being sold, so Cessna stopped making that model.

Between 1971 and 1977, many updates were added to the plane's body. For example, an optional engine fire extinguisher was added in 1971. A simpler exhaust system came in 1972. The passenger windows were made bigger in 1973. In 1975, equipment was added so the plane could fly safely in icy conditions. An optional toilet was even added in 1977!

In 1979, the 402 models got a brand new wing. This new wing was 5 feet (1.5 m) longer than the old one. The landing gear, which are the wheels the plane lands on, were also replaced. They used a simpler system from another Cessna plane, the Cessna 414. The distance between the landing gear wheels was also made 4 feet (1.2 m) wider.

The engines on these planes were made more powerful, each producing 325 horsepower (242 kW). The maximum weight the plane could carry when taking off also increased to 6,850 pounds (3,107 kg). These changes made the plane much more useful. Even with the extra weight, the plane performed better if one engine stopped. It also flew slower before it would stall (lose lift). After all these improvements, the plane was called the Cessna 402C.

Cessna stopped making these planes after the 1985 model year.

Special Changes

Some companies have made special changes to the Cessna 402. In 1969, a company called American Jet Industries started to change the Cessna 402. They replaced its piston engines with jet-like "turboprop" engines. This changed plane was called the Turbo Star 402. It first flew in 1970. Later, more changes were made to carry more fuel and handle more weight.

Another change for the 402C involves adding small devices called "vortex generators." These help the plane lift more weight when taking off. This allows the plane to take off with up to 7,210 pounds (3,270 kg).

There's also a change that lets the 402C land with more weight. This is useful for airlines that fly shorter trips with a lot of cargo or passengers.

A person named Hendrik Venter created a special version called the Falcon 402. He took a Cessna 402 and put a single turboprop engine in the nose. The two original piston engines in the wings were removed and replaced with new fuel tanks. The nose of the plane was made longer to help balance the plane. This Falcon 402 can carry more weight, fly faster, and use shorter runways.

Different Versions

This family of airplanes was built in several different versions:

401

This version had six to eight seats. It was designed for companies to use for business travel. It was made from 1966 to 1972.

401A

This was a 401 with only small changes.

401B

This was a 401A with minor changes. It was later replaced by the 402B.

402

This was a 401 that could be set up in two ways. It could be a "utility" plane for carrying cargo, or a "commuter" plane with nine seats for passengers.

402A

This 402 had a longer nose with a baggage area. It also had an optional door for the pilots.

402B Utiliner/Businessliner

This was a 402A with small changes. From 1972, it had more space inside and five windows on each side.

• The Utiliner version had ten seats. It was made for small airlines that fly short routes.
• The Businessliner version had six to eight seats. It had fancy "executive" seating for business travel.

402C Utiliner/Businessliner

This was a 402B with more powerful 325 horsepower (242 kW) engines. It could take off with more weight. It also had longer wings without the fuel tanks on the wingtips. Its landing gear system was hydraulic (using fluid pressure) instead of electric.

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83

General characteristics

• Crew: Two pilots
• Capacity: Six passengers
• Length: 36 ft 4+1⁄2 in (11.087 m)
• Wingspan: 44 ft 1+1⁄2 in (13.449 m)
• Height: 11 ft 5+1⁄2 in (3.493 m)
• Wing area: 225.8 sq ft (20.98 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 23018 (root) NACA 23015 (tip)
• Empty weight: 4,077 lb (1,849 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,850 lb (3,107 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 206 US gal (172 imp gal; 780 L) usable fuel
• Powerplant: 2 × Continental TSIO-520-VB air-cooled turbocharged flat-six engines, 325 hp (242 kW) each
• Propellers: 3-bladed McCauley 0850334-34 constant speed propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 231 kn (266 mph; 428 km/h) at 16,000 ft (4,900 m)
• Cruise speed: 142 kn (163 mph; 263 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) (econ cruise)
• Stall speed: 68 kn (78 mph; 126 km/h) (flaps down, power off) (CAS)
• Never exceed speed: 231 kn (266 mph; 428 km/h) (CAS)
• Range: 1,273 nmi (1,465 mi; 2,358 km) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m), econ cruise
• Service ceiling: 26,900 ft (8,200 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,450 ft/min (7.4 m/s)
• Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15m): 2,195 ft (669 m)
• Landing distance from 50 ft (15m): 2,485 ft (757 m)

See also

Similar aircraft

• Piper PA-31 Navajo

Lists related to this aircraft

• List of civil aircraft

Images for kids

• 

  Cape Air Cessna 402Cs at Boston Logan in 2008

• 

  A Cessna 402C of the Swedish Coast Guard in 1981

• 

  Inside the cabin

• 

  A drawing showing the Cessna 401C from three views

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  The flight deck (cockpit)

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  An early model Cessna 401. Notice its four oval windows, short nose, and fuel tanks on the wingtips.

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  A later Cessna 402C. It has five windows, a longer nose for luggage, and no wingtip fuel tanks.