Cessna 303 Clipper/Crusader
When Cessna Aircraft wanted a new light twin piston aircraft to better compete with the Piper Seminole and Beechcraft Duchess, the result was the model 303, named Clipper. While the prototype was a four seat airplane, soon Cessna realised that the market had changed and a six seat plane would be better. Hence the Cessna 303 was enlarged and got turbocharged engines. From that moment on the aircraft was known as Cessna T303 Crusader.
The Cessna Crusader is quite a streamlined twin piston aircraft, with a long nose. The engines have horizontally opposed cylinders and are placed in long nacelles extending mostly above and in front of the wings. There is a small exhaust at the bottom of the nacelle, just in front of the wing leading edge. Model T303 has large cockpit windows are curved, followed by smaller side windows. The three cabin windows are rectangular, with rounded corners. The tail is of a cruciform configuration, with a long narrowdorsal fin. Finally, the retractable gears all have single wheels. The main gear retracts sideways in the wings and are of a trailing link type. The nose nose is retracted forward in the nose.
Different versions
The different versions of the Cessna 303 can be distinguished by:
- the length of the fuselage
- the number and size of cabin windows
- the shape and length of the engine nacelles
- the shape of the nose
Cessna 303 Clipper
As originally developed, the Cessna 303 was a four seater with a shorter fuselage, but already with the basic configuration of the later T303. Compared to the latter, the Clipper has larger cabin windows, but only two on each side, shorter engine nacelles and a shorter nose.
As you can see, the original Cessna 303 Clipper has the same basic configuration as the later T303 Crusader, but with larger cabin windows and shorter nacelles.
Cessna T303
The production version of the airplane has a longer fuselage than the Clipper, with three, smaller cabin windows. Also the nose is longer, as are the engine nacelles. These now extend beyond the trailing edge of the wings. Originally, the Crusader had three blade propellers, but some have been converted with four blade ones, like the one on the top photo.
This is the eventual production version, the Cessna T303 Crusader. It has three, but smaller cabin windows, longer nacelles and a longer nose.
Confusion possible with
Fuji FA300/Rockwell Commander 700
Like the Cessna Crusader the FA300/Commander 700 has a cruciform tail, a single wheel gear and piston engines, but there are still significant differences. The Fuji/Rockwell airplane has smaller cabin windows with a slight trapezium shape. Also, the main gear retracts forward in the nacelles.
Swearingen Merlin III
Another twin prop aircraft with a cruciform tail and rounded rectangular cabin windows. The most obvious differences are the twin wheels on all gears, with the main gear retracting forward in the nacelles. Also the cockpit windows are less curved and the dorsal fin is larger.
Reims/Cessna F406
Another Cessna with a single wheel trailing link main gear and a cruciform tail like the Crusader, but with the horizontal stabilisers in a V shape (so with dihedral). Also the cabin windows are rectangular without rounded corners, and the nose gear retracts sideways in the wings and the nose gear retracts rearward. Other Cessna twins of the 400 serie have even fewer features in common.
Piper PA-31 Navajo/Cheyenne
Piper's Pressurised Navajo with its curved cockpit windows and smaller cabin windows look most like the Cessna T303, although it is larger. Moreover, the PA-31 series has a conventional tail and a non trailing link main gear .