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T-41B MESCALERO N9274Z 67-15218 HAS A NEW HOME
N9274Z, US ARMY T-41B TAIL NUMBER 15218
We purchased this airplane out of storage in September 2024. The airplane belonged to the Cactus Air Force Museum in Carson City, NV. N9274Z was in storage for a few years prior to us purchasing it.
During its history with the museum, the airplane was used primarily as an economic way to move flight crews, pick up parts, take mechanics to other airplanes they owned, and for fun flying by their employees. The Cactus Air Force Museum owned and completely refurbished several historical aircraft, most of them larger military airplanes.
After the purchase we obtained an annual inspection (prior annual was 2018). Fortunately, we were able to talk to the mechanic that put the airplane in storage, and he told us that he had preserved the engine and other critical components. Everything checked out and after a few updates to the transponder and addition of ADS-B Shane flew the airplane from Nevada to Kansas. Its’ new home is Augusta Municipal Airport.
The desert sun took a toll on the paint, Tons of elbow grease and rubbing compound has restored much of the beauty of the paint and markings. Our goal is to keep the airplane as original as possible to preserve it as a true military piece of history.
N9274Z T-41B HISTORY:
This T-41B was manufactured by Cessna for the Army in 1967. This T-41B Army version included a 210 hp Continental IO-360-D engine and constant-speed propeller. Other features included a 28V electrical system, jettisonable doors, an openable right front window, a 6.00x6 nose wheel tire, and military avionics. The baggage door was removed for all of the T-41B’s. 255 T-41B’s were built.
About 100 R172E’s are in service today, most of which have been modified for civilian use. Most of those in use today have been repainted to civilian paint schemes and modified by removing the military features for civilian use and are similar to the Cessna R172K ‘Hawk XP (195 horsepower) in the civilian configuration. The civilian modifications often add a prop spinner and wheel fairings.
Other versions of the T-41 were manufactured for the military with 145 hp and a fixed pitch propeller and 210 hp with a fixed pitch propeller.
N9274Z with the serial number 67-15218 has documented history tied to its military service and subsequent civilian use. Manufactured in 1967 by Cessna Aircraft Company, this T-41B Mescalero was originally delivered to the U.S. Army in 1967, where it served as a training aircraft for Army flight students and also functioned as a liaison and utility ("hack") aircraft.
After serving approximately 30 years in the U.S. Army, 67-15218 was retired and sold as surplus through a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) sale in 2002. It was acquired by the Cactus Air Force (CAF), a group dedicated to preserving military aviation history. The CAF fully rebuilt the aircraft to airworthy condition and repainted it in its original U.S. Army colors—Army green, white, and dayglo-orange—reflecting its military heritage. Registered as N9274Z in civilian use, it was utilized by the CAF for member training and as a support aircraft for moving their fleet to various airshows across the United States.
This particular T-41B remains a functional piece of aviation history, valued both for its past role in training Army pilots and its current use in preserving and show casing its’ military aviation heritage. The distinctive military paint scheme and operational status make it a notable example of the T-41B Mescalero lineage.
N9274Z PERFORMANCE:
· Cruise Speed: Approximately 120-130 knots
· Maximum speed: 125 kn (144 mph, 232 km/h)
· Stall Speed: Approximately 47 knots
· Range: Around 500-600 nautical miles
· Range: 626 nmi (720 mi, 1,159 km)
· Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
· Rate of climb: 880 ft/min (4.5 m/s)
T-41B General characteristics
· Crew: one
· Capacity: three passengers
· Length: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
· Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
· Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
· Wing area: 159 sq ft (14.8 m2)
· Empty weight: 1,363 lb (618 kg)
· Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
· Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-360-D 6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 210 hp (160 kW)
· Propeller: 2-bladed variable-pitch (constant speed) propeller