The T-50, as fans of the show might remember, was the first airplane owned by the hero of the popular television show Sky King. It was also Cessna’s first twin, and looking at it and the materials it was constructed from, it’s clear that the T-50 was transitional technology, helping pave the way for Cessna, and Sky King, to move on to the new all-metal and decidedly modern model 310. The Bobcat’s snub-nosed look and its almost completely retractable landing gear, coupled with plywood-covered structures and big round engines, give it a decidedly 1930s appearance. Despite it being outmoded at delivery, the twin was a big success for Cessna. It sold more than 5,000 of them, mostly to the United States armed forces.
On the other hand
Like many aircraft from its era, the T-50 was captive to the materials and components available. Its workmanlike balance and presence gives it a handsome familiarity, like that favorite old car that’s dated but still beautiful.
