Cessna 402 Utiliner

The Cessna 401 and 402 are a series of 6 to 10 seat, light twin-piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner.Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: ''A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition'', page 108. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. All seats are easily removable so that the aircraft can be used in an all-cargo configuration. Neither the Cessna 401 nor the 402 were pressurized, nor were they particularly fast for the installed power. Instead, Cessna intended them to be inexpensive to purchase and operate.

Development

The Cessna 401 and 402 were developed to be non-pressurized twin engine piston aircraft. Their goal was to be a workhorse, useful to cargo and small commuter airlines among other users.

The Cessna 401 and 402 were developments of the Cessna 411. One goal for the Cessna 401/402 was to improve upon the very bad single engine handling of the Cessna 411.Aviation Consumer's Used Aircraft Guide vol 2 Another goal was to avoid using the somewhat expensive and maintenance prone geared engines of the Cessna 411.

Cessna 401s and 402s are powered by turbocharged Continental engines with three-bladed, constant speed, fully feathering propellers. On later models cruise power was limited to 75% to reduce cabin noise. Some aircraft have a propeller synchrophaser to reduce cabin noise and vibration.

The FAA granted certification to the Cessna 401 in October 1968 and the 402 in January 1969.
The original Cessna 402 was introduced in 1967. A version without the large cargo door called the Cessna 401 was produced at the same time.
In 1969, the 402's nose was stretched for added baggage space. This model was renamed the 402A. The 401 kept the original nose.
In 1970, various minor changes were made. Also, optional larger fuel tanks, of , became available. This model was called the 402B.
By 1971, sales of the 401 had slowed to only 21 planes, so the model was discontinued.

Between 1971 and 1977, many changes were made to the airframe, including an optional engine fire extinguisher (1971), simpler exhaust system (1972), enlarged passenger windows (1973), equipment for flight into known icing conditions (1975), and an optional flushing toilet (1977).

In 1976, the very similar Cessna 421 was produced with a new wing, no tip tanks, and a simpler fuel system. The Cessna 414 was given a clean wing in 1978.

In 1979, the 402s received a new wing, with a greater span. The landing gear was replaced, using the simpler system from the Cessna 414. The landing gear track was also increased by . The engines' output was boosted to each and max gross weight increased to , creating a much more useful airplane. Fuel capacity was increased to . Even with the weight increase, single-engine performance improved and the stall speed decreased by a couple of knots. After this change, the plane was named the Cessna 402C.

Production stopped after the 1985 model year.

Modifications

In 1969, American Jet Industries began work on a turboprop-powered conversion of the Cessna 402, named the Turbo Star 402, using Allison 250-B17 engines. The prototype flew on 10 June 1970. Further modifications providing increased fuel capacity, higher gross weight, and lower minimum control speed were carried out in 1974 and the modification was re-certified. Scenic Airlines of Las Vegas purchased rights to the design in 1977.

The Cessna 402C may be outfitted with vortex generators

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