1946 Cessna 120

[@saahbs]

Finally, a miniwagon was presented at the University :) Thank You! I'm a 140 driver.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

There is also a 150 Taildragger on here, a 1959.

[@garykendall1376]

Brings back memories of my first flying lesson, C-120 at PRC in July 1965. Progressed to power on stalls and scared the crap out of me. Quit lessons for three weeks. Went back and flew a PA-28 140, soloed with 6.5 total hours then went back into the 120. Thanks for showing this beautiful airplane Mark.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

You are welcome.

[@rvrrunner]

I owned 1946 Cessna 120 N76646 for a number of years. It was severely damaged by a Okla Tornado in 1978 and it took me a year to rebuild and update it with a top overhaul and electrical system (I have an FAA A&P). I sold it a few years later and it flew for many years but I see that it was destroyed in a non-fatal crash when a police helicopter crossed the runway in front of the landing Cessna and it flipped onto its back. Very sad ending. I loved that airplane and flew it all over the mid-west. Interesting, my 120 had extensions on the bottom of the landing gear that moved the wheels forward several inches. I only saw one aircraft in the video with the extension. Not sure what the original reason was for its installation but it didn't seem to impact handling of my aircraft. Any info on this would be appreciated.

[@wiffleful1]

I love your videos Mark. This one brings back great memories from flying Cessna taildraggers over the years. That’s a beautiful example of a 120!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you.

[@tjabaley]

No music necessary. I love hearing you and the planes. Thanks for another good show!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The intercom didn't allow Mark to speak without transmitting, so there was no commentary. Music filled in the dead space. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@tjabaley]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 understood. really enjoy yalls work. the camerawork really gives you a feel for the aircraft

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks! We sincerely appreciate that you are watching. - Don

[@RyanRuark]

That thing is closer in age to the Wright Flyer than a new pilot getting their certificate is to it today.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Scary.

[@MemphisBBQ640]

Orville Wright was still alive when this airplane left the factory; think of that...

[@curtisl3595]

My first plane was a '47- 120. Engine was a C-90 which added improved performance. Micro Aerodynamics used mine for Vortex Generators testing and certification for the 120's and 140's. This was a huge improvement in overall performance. Stalls became just a controlled decent, aileron response was improved, stall speed was reduced by about 6 mph. Wonderful airplane to fly and maintain.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you for the info.

[@atg197]

What did VGs do to your cruise speed?

[@curtisl3595]

@@atg197 No noticeable difference in cruise performance. Engine was rebuilt, balanced and port tuned, cruise was 118 mph with the 71/52 prop.

[@atg197]

@@curtisl3595 It is interesting but the VGs have to cost you some top end speed.

[@curtisl3595]

@@atg197 Why would it have to? The VG's are installed on a lot of much faster planes with no speed loss.

[@earlelkins9086]

Nice video Mark. Love the old Cessnas

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I do too

[@ditto1958]

My neighbor when I was in high school had a 140. I flew with him in it and he let me take the controls and do a couple of turns. It was a really cool airplane. A few years earlier, 1967, when Green Bay and Dallas were playing in the Ice Bowl, he flew it over Lambeau Field. NFL Films did a video about it that’s on KZbin.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Imagine doing that today.

[@BOPilot5517]

Such a cool airport.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Up on a hill.

[@doncatchpole]

Enjoyed

[@innovativeintelligence4172]

Sweet rig, great guitar ..

[@atg197]

Digging the spaghetti western Three Amigos music! I kept expecting Jack Black to pop out of a bush somewhere in a wrestling outfit. Viva la Ciento Cuarenta!

[@bryancastle5773]

Yeah that’s a real airplane. And that was a beautiful landing.😊

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks

[@FlyingNDriving]

Mark, I like the jokes, i like the laughs and even all the useful information, but unfortunately I will have to thumbs down because i did not hear your phone ring during this video. I just didn't feel like i was really watching a Skywagon video.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I can confirm that it went off in between shots. Sometimes we get lucky. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@antonioiozzi9171]

I also noticed the lack of telefon calls. Not good at all Mark!!!

[@danielreuter2565]

I've often thought when those calls come in that he should automatically answer it and say "it's sold" and hang up.

[@MalcolmRuthven]

I learned to fly a long time ago, and of my first 200 hours I'd say 100 were in Cessna 120s and 140s. Great cross country cruisers for two people on short-ish trips. I recall indicating 105 mph in low-level cruise.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Very cool!

[@AugustusLarch]

People know the downwind checklist GUMPS. But what of the ground/runup check, CIGAR stands for controls check, instruments set, gas (fuel on proper tank, pump on), attitude (flaps and trim set) and runup (magnetos check). In my flight school they had a ring of cards that you had to move to sit down. We learned GUMPS, but no CIGAR.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yup. I meant Cigar, but my fingers typed GUMPS. Some days are like that. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@haggeoromero]

“Fair well to arms” ☠️ That alone made me subscribe.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I love that Joke.

[@Baledoctor]

Love it. I'm on my second 120 here in the UK. My, first had the 85, current has O-200 and have 1,700 hours in the type now. Funny story, in 2025, I revved a 172 in Florida for a week of touring when in holiday for SnF, only to discover that the 172 owner's father had owned a 120 in Guyana in the 1960s. My 120 had been in Guyana in the '60s. He made a call to his father.....low and behold, it was the same plane! He whatapped a few pictures of his old log book to us, there and then, and sure enough, same aircraft! Small world. Love your videos and podcasts. Webbing airfield did you do the 120 flight from, scenery looks like northern California, I may have flown up there... Cheers Graham

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is a one in 7500 chance that you had the same plane. Yes, Northern California. Placerville. KPVF.

[@Baledoctor]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 aha.... looks a nice place. I've flown into Stockton, Nut Tree, McClellan, Lincoln, Oroville, Napa, Lakeport, Palo Alto and Petaluma up in north Calif. Miss the place.....

[@Baledoctor]

@@My_Fair_Lady oops, 2015, I rented a 172.........

[@rexcox8165]

thanks mark great video,after ya took off couldn't hear you,otherwise great video thanks !

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The intercom would not record unless it was actually transmitting. Sorry.

[@ronnieandpatriciamackinnon4958]

Ahhh,, thank you!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Welcome!

[@42tattooman]

The fabric wing 120/140's had nicer flying qualities. Something was lost when the metal covered the wing.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It flew well but the yoke was very close to me.

[@todhog]

The yokes have been turned upside down for more leg room.

[@dontperish6426]

About 3 years ago you made a rifle stock video. Im trying to find the rasp you used . Is there a particular supplier or brand that we can use to buy them. Again thank you.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That rasp is called a Surform and can be bought in most hardware stores or online. There is around one and flat on.

[@atg197]

The most honest part of the review is the groan while you are trying to exit the aircraft. Every time it's a new adventure 😅

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's tight to get out of for sure.

[@scottenlow5249]

Bravo! Love the music.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you! I listen to a lot of tracks before I find the right one. Never an easy selection. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@yesode4201]

That was cool! You still had 800 feet remaining.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I used a lot of runway.

[@musoseven8218]

Charming little aeroplane, the panal reminds me of my dad's old Aeronca Chief. Shame the intercom wouldn't play ball, always nice to hear the in-flight stuff with you. BTW what is GUMP? As opposed to CIGAR - excuse my ignorance, every day is a school day 🤔👍 Thanks for sharing ✌️👍💜😊

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks. It should have been Cigar. Gump is for landing. Sorry.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I dunno what I was thinking (or wasn't) when I wrote GUMPS instead of Cigar. We all have days like that, I suppose! - Don the Camera Guy

[@ph5915]

love those little planes, too narrow for side-by-side seating, for me tho...

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes. Very small.

[@flysport_tedder]

Love the 120s and 140s. My dream is to own part of one in addition to my main plane. 8:16 love the new disclaimer. 13:25 okay don, did you add this caption? :)

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I think Final Cut Pro added the caption automatically. It's humbling to be recognized, but it's my cross to bear. - Don the Camera Guy

[@mattf49006]

I've flown both fabric and metal wing versions.....perhaps it was just me but I felt the linen wing aircraft flew better and had "feel" edit : since you turned it down I purposely turn up the volume on the intro horns!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

People do say that. Thanks.

[@stubryant9145]

Sounds a bit like the only 120 with a turbine APU...😂 Oh wait, that was a gyro winding down?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I think it was a plane taxiing by up on the taxiway. Stage sound though.

[@57eleven1]

Where are you located? It looks like Georgia but I have no idea. I really like the 120’s and 140’s. I own a 1965 C150. Nice video

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It is North Eastern California KPVF, Placerville.

[@curtisl3595]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I flew my '47-120 there on a trip to California from the Seattle area. Beautiful country!

[@skybossfg1d]

Would be nice to see a 120 and a Luscombe comparison...

[@cadmanchannel]

I used to own a part of a Luscombe, so I did some reading about where the 120 came from. The Cessna brothers bought two L8A and did flight testing with one and disassembled the other. Even the 120 rivets are in the same places. The 120 shown here has the rear window like an 8E, as did our plane that started life as an 8A. Our wings were rebuilt with metal as well and held the fuel. Cessna knew the sticks were an issue getting in and out of the plane, and so put yokes in the 120. Our 8A/E had an O-200 with full electrical. I was not a fan of some of the engineering, so I expect the 120/140 to have some Cessna touches that would make it a better plane, but Luscombe thought of it first.

[@stubryant9145]

@@cadmanchannel Did you feel the Luscombe's ground handling was particularly squirrelly as some have said? How does it compare to the 120/140?

[@cadmanchannel]

Mark might know. We removed a Scott tailwheel and put on a smaller unit (might have been a Lang). It was a huge improvement and I would say the ground handling was fine after that. I had airplane partner issues right after that and didn't fly it much before I left. I have not flown a 120/140.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The 120/140 is easier to land than the Luscombe. But what ever you get used to is what you know best and will work.

[@atg197]

A 140 is far better designed and built than a Luscombe. But the Luscombes were faster for given power. Probably the leg fairings but also more span and nice notched wings at the fuselage

[@MattMorris481]

I always thought the Cessna 120 looked like a luscomb.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Very similar.

[@zlstephens13]

I had a 1948 Cessna 140 and it did not have a rear window.

[@FlightSimDude]

👍

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Like that old style cockpit and electric start. Beautiful little plane and those 140 additions make sense. Being critical here: the music is very nice but not appropriate for these videos. I'd much rather listen to the plane and commentary.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

There was no commentary as the intercom didn't allow Mark to speak unless he was transmitting. ATC might have enjoyed it, but that is a lot of air time. Anyway, just taking my cues from the movie industry that doesn't like "dead space." We're self taught and rely on professionals for guidance. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@Zaephyrs]

@@skywagonuniversity5023Meanwhile I am reading the comments while checking out the rest of the Wastelander/Heist EP. In the absence of commentary from Mark, excellent music choice and I thought it fit really well. Thanks Don.

[@DanFrederiksen]

1946 and doesn't look out of place in GA. The sad state of GA. Our planes should be so much better by now.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

They haven't changed much is 76 years.

[@DanFrederiksen]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 that's the tragic truth.

[@atg197]

Nothing wrong with these planes. Rag and tube is probably better than AL monocoque or semi monocoque but AL is easily rebuilt, light and strong.

[@DanFrederiksen]

@@atg197 alu is frail and easily broken and ugly and labor intensive to repair. molded composite is so obviously vastly superior. what's possible is a plane that's 3x faster with same fuel economy. there is a lot wrong with a 1946 plane

[@atg197]

​@@DanFrederiksenSpoken like a man who has never repaired a composite. If you think composites are easier or cheaper to repair than aluminum, you are either trolling or have no idea what you are writing about.

[@erniekelly2479]

85 HP seems like it would make for an anemic airplane. But it looks like it’s plenty.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Small plane, small engine, lightweight and not fast but fun.

[@joshuacormican6656]

Never seen a GUMPS run up before😂

[@ohiyesa2328]

haah, i thought the same

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I had an embarrassing brain fart on that one. We'll leave it in to show that even the mighty "Don the Camera Guy!" can make a mistake. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@rickunruh8132]

12.5x2=????

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I know. ha ha ha

[@atg197]

Headliner needs help. Not a difficult job. There is a dvd on how to do it.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's not my plane to fix.

[@atg197]

Ok well maybe the owner will watch the video and see my comment :-)

[@davidjose9808]

Airtex makes the kit. Would look sharp if replaced with a new one!

[@antonioiozzi9171]

No telefon call today!!! 🤓😴😭🤤

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It happened in between shots. - Don the Camera Guy.