The Cessna 336/337 Skymaster is a light multi-purpose aircraft developed by the American firm Cessna Aircraft Co. In the late 1950s, Cessna developed a light, inexpensive twin-engine aircraft, one of whose engines featured a tractor propeller and the other a pusher propeller. The first flight of the Cessna 336 Skymaster model took place on February 28, 1961.
Fifteen months later, it received its airworthiness certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, with deliveries to customers beginning in May 1963. This was a four-seater aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear, equipped with two Continental IO-360IA engines, each producing 210 hp.
Design Evolution and International Production
After 195 units of the Model 336 were manufactured, it was replaced in early 1965 by the Model 337 Super Skymaster, which featured retractable landing gear. It also allowed for an additional 136 kg of baggage to be carried in a non-standard fiberglass container under the fuselage. In 1969, Reims Aviation in France began licensed assembly of the Model 337.
The main components were supplied by Cessna, and the Continental engines by Rolls Royce in the United Kingdom. Aircraft production took place concurrently in the USA and France, with machines assembled in France being designated Reims F337. The name “Milirole” was used to refer to the basic unpressurized F337 model.
Advanced Variants and Commercial Success
In 1974, Reims Aviation created a special unpressurized model with short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities, designated FTB337. This model could be fitted with various equipment for sea and land patrolling, as well as search and rescue operations. In 1970, the Model 337 Turbo-System Super Skymaster, equipped with a turbocharger, was released.
The prototype of the pressurized T337 Skymaster, with two Continental TSIO-360 engines each producing 225 hp, made its first flight in July 1971, with customer deliveries commencing in May of the following year. By the mid-1980s, 1821 Model 337 aircraft, 313 pressurized Model 337s, and 544 military O-2 modifications had been sold. Reims Aviation manufactured 66 F337s, 27 F337Ps, and 61 FTB337s under license.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Cessna T337G |
| Wingspan, m | 11.63 |
| Aircraft length, m | 9.07 |
| Aircraft height, m | 2.84 |
| Wing area, m2 | 18.70 |
| Empty weight | 1444 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 2132 |
| Engine type | 2 Piston engine Continental TSIO-360C |
| Power, hp | 2 x 225 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 402 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 380 |
| Economical speed, km/h | 273 |
| Practical range, km | 2422 |
| Maximum rate of climb, m/min | 381 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 6096 |
| Crew, crew members | 1 |
| Payload: | 5 passengers or 1 cargo container |
Image and diagram gallery of the Cessna 336/337 Skymaster
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |
 Cessna 336/337 Skymaster |