The story
The T-50 flew on 26 March 1939 as Cessna's first twin-engine airplane and its first with retractable gear. It was built from wood and steel tube under fabric, a lighter, cheaper twin for buyers who found a Beech 18 too expensive. The war turned it into a trainer and light transport: the AT-8, AT-17 and UC-78 for the Army, the JRC-1 for the Navy and the Crane for Canada. Cessna built 5,422 in all, and the pilots who flew them called it the Bamboo Bomber.
Sky King's first Songbird on 1950s TV was a war-surplus UC-78B owned by Hollywood pilot Paul Mantz. Later episodes swapped it for an all-metal Cessna 310.
Quick answers
How do you identify a T-50 Bobcat?
A low-wing twin with two radial engines and a single fin. When the gear is up, part of each main wheel still hangs below the engine nacelle. The military trainers added windows in the cockpit roof. A Beech 18 has the same twin-radial layout but a twin tail.
What does a T-50 Bobcat sound like?
Two seven-cylinder Jacobs radials, a busy twin-radial rumble.
How fast is the T-50 Bobcat?
Top speed is 152 kts (175 mph) (UC-78B).
How many passengers does the T-50 Bobcat carry?
Up to 4. A typical layout is Five seats: pilot and four passengers.
How far can the T-50 Bobcat fly?
Range is about 652 nmi (UC-78B).
How big is the T-50 Bobcat?
It is 32 ft 9 in long and 41 ft 11 in across the wings.
When did the T-50 Bobcat first fly?
Its first flight was in 1939.
How many T-50 Bobcats have been built?
5,422 (all models) built.
How rare is a T-50 Bobcat in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first T-50 Bobcat catch is worth 250 points.
