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The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that was produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engined aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.
The 310 first flew on January 3, 1953 with deliveries starting in late 1954. The sleek modern lines of the new twin were backed up by innovative features such as engine exhaust thrust augmenter tubes and the storage of all fuel in tip tanks in early models. In 1964, the engine exhaust was changed to flow under the wing instead of the augmenter tubes, which were considered to be noisy.
Typical of Cessna model naming conventions, a letter was added after the model number to identify changes to the original design over the years. The first significant upgrade to the 310 series was the 310C in 1959, which introduced more powerful 260 hp (194 kW) Continental IO-470-D engines. In 1960 the 310D featured swept back vertical tail surfaces. An extra cabin window was added with the 310F.
The 320 Skyknight was developed from the 310F, which featured turbocharged TSIO-470-B engines and a fourth cabin side-window. The Skyknight was in production between 1961 and 1969 (the 320E was named the Executive Skyknight), when it was replaced by the similar Turbo 310.
The 310G was certified in 1961 and introduced the canted wingtip fuel tanks found on the majority of the Cessna twin-engined product line, marketed as 'stabila-tip' tanks by Cessna because they were meant to aid stability in flight. A single side window replaced the rear two windows on the 310K (certified in late 1965), with optional three-blade propellers being introduced as well. Subsequent developments included the 310Q and turbocharged T310Q with a redesigned rear cabin featuring a skylight window, and the final 310R and T310R, identifiable by a lengthened nose containing a baggage compartment. Production ended in 1980.
Over the years there were several modifications to the 310 to improve performance. Noted aircraft engineer Jack Riley produced two variants, The Riley Rocket 310 and the Riley Turbostream 310. Riley replaced the standard Continental 310 hp (230 kW) engines with Lycoming TIO-540 350 hp (261 kW) engines. These turbocharged intercooled engines were installed with three-blade Hartzell propellers in a counter-rotating configuration to further increase performance and single-engine safety. At 5,400 lb (2,400 kg). gross weight the aircraft had a weight to power ratio of 7.71 lb (3.50 kg). per horsepower. This resulted in a cruising speed of 260 knots (480 km/h) at 18,000 feet (5,500 m) and a 3,000fpm rate of climb.
Commercial applications
The Cessna 310 was a common charter aircraft for the many air taxi firms that sprang up in the general aviation boom that followed World War II. The advantages of the Cessna 310 over its contemporaries, such as the Piper PA-23, were its speed, operating costs and after market modifications such as the Robertson STOL kits which made it popular worldwide for its bush flying characteristics. It could use short runways while at the same time carrying a large useful load of 2,000 lb (910 kg). or more, at high speeds for a twin engine piston aircraft.
Military applications
In 1957, the United States Air Force (USAF) selected the Cessna 310 for service as a light utility aircraft for transport and administrative support. The USAF purchased 160 unmodified 310A aircraft with the designation L-27A and unofficially nicknamed Blue Canoe, later changed to U-3A in 1962. An additional 36 upgraded 310 designated L-27B (later U-3B) were delivered in 1960–61; these aircraft were essentially military 310Fs and as such equipped with the more powerful 260 hp (194 kW) engines and can be identified by their extra cabin windows, longer nose and swept vertical fin. A USAF study after one year of operational service found the U-3A had direct operating costs of less than $12 an hour. Some USAF aircraft were later transferred to the US Army and US Navy and the type continued in US military service into the mid-1970s.
Variants
310
Production aircraft powered by two 240 hp (180 kW) Continental O-470-B engines, 547 built.
310A
Military version of the 310 for the United States Air Force, designated L-27A and later U-3A, 160 built.
310B
310 with new instrument panel, O-470-M engines and minor changes, 225 built.
310C
310B with 260 hp (190 kW) IO-470-D engines, increased takeoff weight and minor changes, 259 built. Unit cost $59,950 in 1959
310D
310C with swept vertical tail and minor detail changes, 268 built.
310E
Military version of the 310F, designated the L-27B and later U-3B, 36 built.
310F
310D with extra cabin window each side, pointed nose, new tip tank shape and other minor changes, 156 built.
310G
310F with slimline tip tanks, six-seat cabin, an increased takeoff weight and detail changes, 156 built.
310H
310G with increased takeoff weight and enlarged cabin interior, 148 built.
310I
310H with IO-470-U engines, baggage compartments in rear of engine nacelles and minor detail changes, 200 built.
310J
310I with minor detailed changes, 200 built.
310K
310J with long 'vista view' side windows, increased takeoff weight and IO-470-V engines, 245 built.
310L
310K with single-piece windshield, redesigned landing gear, increased fuel capacity and minor changes, 207 built.
310M
Revised designation for the 310E.
310N
310L with revised instrument panel, optional fuel tanks in engine nacelles, IO-470-V-O engines and minor changes, 198 built.
310P
310N with a shorter nosegear leg, ventral fin, and optional turbocharged Continental TSIO-520-B engines, 240 built.
310Q
310P with takeoff weight increased to 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) and detailed changes, from the 401st aircraft fitted with a bulged rear cabin roof with rear view window, 1160 built.
310R
310Q with three-bladed propellers, lengthened nose with baggage compartment, 5,500 lb (2,500 kg) takeoff weight and 285 hp (213 kW) IO-520-M engines, 1332 built.
310S
Original designation for the Cessna 320.
320 Skyknight
Enlarged version of the 310F with six seats, larger cabin and two turbocharged engines, 110 built.
320A Skyknight
320 with stabil-tip fuel tanks and minor changes, 47 built.
320B Skyknight
320A with nacelle baggage lockers and minor changes, 62 built.
320C Skyknight
320B with a longer cabin, optional seventh seat and minor changes, 73 built.
320D Executive Skyknight
320C with reshaped rear windows and 285 hp (213 kW) TSIO-520-B engines, 130 built.
320E Executive Skyknight
320D with pointed nose, single piece windshield, modified landing gear, increased takeoff weight and minor changes, 110 built.
320F Executive Skyknight
320E with minor changes, 45 built.
L-27A
United States military designation for the 310A, later changed to U-3A.
L-27B
United States military designation for the 310E/310M, later changed to U-3B.
U-3A
L-27A redesignated in 1963.
U-3B
L-27B redesignated in 1963.
Riley 65
Cessna 310 to 310G by fitting two 240-260 hp (179–194 kW) Continental O-470D/-470M engines.
Riley Super 310
Conversion of Cessna 310/320 by fitting two 310 hp (231 kW) Continental TSIO-520-J/-N engines.
Riley Turbostream
Conversion of Cessna 310 by fitting two 350 hp Lycoming engines.
Riley Rocket
Conversion of Cessna 310 by fitting two 290 hp (216 kW) Lycoming IO-540-A1A5 engines and more fuel.
Civil
The aircraft is popular with air charter companies and small feeder airlines, and is operated by private individuals and companies.
Military operators
Countries known to have operated the U-3/310 include.
On October 28, 1959, a Cessna 310 carrying Cuban revolutionary Camilo Cienfuegos disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean on a night flight from Camaguey to Havana. Neither the aircraft nor the body of Cienfuegos were ever found.
On November 26, 1962, a VASPSaab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SRA en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo with a private Cessna 310 registration PT-BRQ en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Campo de Marte. Both were flying on the same airway in opposite directions and failed to have visual contact. The two aircraft crashed killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and the four occupants of the Cessna.
On October 16, 1972, U.S. Congressmen Nick Begich of Alaska, and Hale Boggs of Louisiana, disappeared over Alaska while flying in a Cessna 310 during a campaign trip.
On 19 December 1992, Cuban defector Major Orestes Lorenzo Pérez returned to Cuba in a 1961 Cessna 310 to retrieve his wife Vicky and his two sons. Flying without lights, at low speed and very low altitude to avoid Cuban radar, Pérez picked up his family by landing on the coastal highway of Varadero beach, Matanzas Province, 93 mi (150 km) east of Havana and managed a successful safe return to Marathon, Florida.
As of December 2013, the NTSB has recorded 1924 incidents for Cessna 310s since 12 January 1964. Only 436 of those incidents were fatal.
Specifications (1956 model 310)
Data from 1956 Observers Book of Aircraft
General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: four passengers
Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Wing area: 175 sq ft (16.3 m2)
Empty weight: 2,850 lb (1,293 kg)
Gross weight: 4,600 lb (2,087 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Continental O-470-B horizontally opposed piston engines, 240 hp (180 kW) each
