Cessna 188

Cessna 188

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Model 188 AG series

Cessna A188B-300 AGtruck
Role	Light agricultural airplane
Manufacturer	Cessna Aircraft Company
First flight	19 February 1965
Introduced	1966
Produced	1966-1983
Number built	3967
Unit cost	base price USD$15,995 in 1966

The Cessna 188 is a family of light agricultural airplanes produced between 1966 and 1983 by the Cessna Aircraft Company.

The various versions of the 188 — the AGwagon, AGpickup, AGtruck and AGhusky, along with the AGcarryall variant of the 185, constituted Cessna's line of agricultural aircraft.

Development

In the early 1960s Cessna decided to expand their already wide line of light aircraft by entering the agricultural aircraft market. They surveyed pilots and operators of other brands of agricultural aircraft to see what features and capabilities these operators were looking for. The resulting aircraft was a conventional single-seat, piston-powered, strut-braced low-winged agricultural airplane.

The Cessna 188 borrowed heavily from the Cessna 180, the initial version using the same tail cone and fin structure as well as the same Continental O-470-R 230hp (170kW) powerplant. The 188’s airframe is predominantly built from 2024-T3 aluminum, with the chemical hopper constructed from fibreglass. The fuselage is of semi-monocoque construction and is pressurized on later models (using the dynamic pressure resulting from the aircraft's forward speed) to reduce induction of chemicals into the airframe.

The Cessna 188 was first flown on 19 February 1965. The aircraft was certified and entered production in February 1966, with 241 aircraft delivered the first year.

The initial design of the Cessna 188 was so successful that over its 17-year production run the basic airframe remained unchanged. Only the engines and the agricultural products dispensing systems were upgraded, other than some minor changes to the ventilation systems.

A total of 3967 Cessna 188s of all four variants were built during its production run.

Variants

Cessna 188-230 AGpickup

The first 188 features a Continental O-470-R 230hp (170kW) powerplant, along with a 200 US gallon (760 liter) chemical hopper. It was named the AGpickup starting in 1972 and became the economy model of the 188 line, being initially offered in 1966 at a base price of $15,995. The AGpickup was last produced in 1974.

Cessna A188-300 AGwagon

The A188 was the first 300 hp (250 kW) Cessna 188 and is powered by the Continental IO-520-D and features a 200 US gallon chemical hopper. It was introduced in 1966 alongside the lower-horsepower AGpickup at a base price of $18,950. The A188 was named the AGwagon in 1972. It ceased production in 1980.

A Cessna A188B-300 AGtruck at Steinbach Manitoba, May 1988

Cessna A188B-300 AGtruck

The AGtruck was introduced in 1972 with an increased maximum takeoff weight in the restricted agricultural category of 4200 pounds (1905 kg) and a 280 US gallon (1060 liter) hopper. It is powered by the same 300 hp (250 kW) Continental IO-520-D powerplant as the AGwagon, with a standard two blade fixed pitch or optional three blade constant speed McCauley propeller. Standard price at introduction in 1972 was $30,500. The AGtruck continued in production until the end of the 188 production in 1983.

Cessna T188C AGhusky

The AGhusky is the highest powered 188 version, combining the 280 US gallon hopper with a turbo-charged and fuel-injected 310 hp (230kW) Continental TSIO-520-T engine powering a three-bladed constant speed McCauley propeller. The bigger engine results in the AGhusky being seven inches (178 mm) longer than the other 188 models. Gross weight on this version is 4400 lb (1995 kg). Initial standard price when production started in 1979 was $60,350 and the final base price in 1983 was $102,600. The AGhusky ended its production run after four years in 1983.

Present day

Though the design is no longer in production, Cessna 188s are still in demand for use in agricultural applications, firefighting and also for glider and banner towing. The 188 is prized by aerial operators for its simplicity and ease of maintenance as well as its good parts support from Cessna.

Specifications (1973 Cessna A188B-300 AGtruck)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: Hopper: 280 gal (1060 l)
Length: 26 ft 3 inch (8 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 8 in (12.7 m)
Height: 7 ft 9.5 in (2.4 m)
Wing area: 205 ft² (19 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 2412
Empty weight:
- With no dispersal equipment installed: 2,030 lb (921 kg)
- With liquid dispersal system: 2,160 lb (980 kg)
Loaded weight: 3,300 lb (1,497 kg)
Useful load:
- Normal category, with no dispersal equipment installed: 1,270 lb (576 kg)
- Restricted category, with liquid dispersal system: 1,840 lb (835 kg)
Max takeoff weight:
- Normal category: 3,300 lb (1,497 kg)
- Restricted category: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Continental IO-520-D, 300 hp (223.7 kW) 5 minutes, 285 hp (212.5 kW) continuous

Performance

Maximum speed: 121 mph (195 km/h)
Cruise speed: 114 mph (183 km/h) (at 75% power)
Stall speed:
- Clean: 61 mph (98 km/h)
- With full flaps: 57 mph (92 km/h)
Range: 390 mi (628 km)
Service ceiling: 11,100 ft (3,383 m)
Rate of climb: 690 ft/min (3.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 16.1 lb/ft² (78.8 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 11 lb/hp (6.7 kg/kW)