N4151N

A history of one amazing little airplane… , N4151N, S/N: 13873

Overview:

The Cessna 120 and Cessna 140 were first produced in 1946, immediately following the end of World War II. Combined production of the 120, 140, and 140A totaled 7,664 aircraft before production was ended in 1950 to make the transition to tricycle gear airplanes. The Cessna 140 was originally equipped with a Continental C-­­85-­­12 engine, fabric covered wings, flaps, and metal flight control surfaces. Since production and throughout the years, many 140’s have been upgraded with O-200 engines, landing lights, Cleveland brakes, metalized wings, and many other additional modifications due to limited parts availability of original equipment.

History:

Following production, Cessna’s Chief Test Pilot, Mort Brown, first flew N4151N on June 2, 1947. Following the first flight, it was purchased by two separate aircraft sales companies and eventually sold to Geo Fogerty. Mr. B. Plez Nance, a former flight instructor at Hemet-Ryan Field during World War II, subsequently flew N4151N from Wichita, , to San Diego, California. In 1945, Mr. Nance and his partner Leonard Cooper (also instructed and commanded the training detachment at Hemet-Ryan Field), leased Peik Airfield, a small dirt airstrip near San Diego (Mission Bay area) and started the San Diego Flight Academy, where they taught pilots how to fly utilizing the GI bill following World War II. In 1948, they were able to purchase N4151N outright, which was already part of their fleet of airplanes, which consisted of 4 Aeronca Champs, an Aeronca Sedan, two Ryan PT-22's, and a Taylorcraft. In discussions with John Nance, Plez's son, it was found that the Champs were used for primary instruction (pattern work, teaching people how to land), while the Taylorcraft and 140 were used primarily for cross-country training.

Aerial photo of Peik Airport in 1946 (Courtesy of John Nance).

During the time N4151N was operated at the San Diego Flight Academy (also called Nance and Cooper Flight Academy), the school employed a young lady, Ms. Ruth Gamber, who was in charge of the flight dispatch operations. As the word of the 1949 Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (also dubbed the Powder Puff Derby) was spreading, Mr. Nance, Mr. Cooper, and Ms. Gamber decided to enter the race with N4151N, dressed with the San Diego Flight Academy and Mobiloil logos (Plez also used to work for Standard/Mobiloil prior to World War II). Ms. Gamber, a former Women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP class 43-W-4, and qualified in BT-13, PT-19, AT-6, C-47, and B-24 aircraft), piloted Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

N4151N in the race and Ms. Dorthea Shultz, also a former WASP, was her co-pilot. The race flight originated from San Diego, with an ultimate destination of Miami, Florida. After numerous fuel stops spanning a few days, Ms. Gamber and Ms. Shultz arrived in Miami, placing fifth overall in the race of 16 aircraft.

N4151N during the 1949 Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race in front of the Convair Aircraft Factory. (Courtesy of the San Diego Air & Space Museum).

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

N4151N being refueled during the 1949 Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race in front of the Friedkin School of Aeronautics. (Courtesy of the San Diego Air & Space Museum).

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

From left to right, Leonard Cooper, unknown, Ruth Gamber, and B. Plez Nance in front of N4151N at the Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race in 1949 (Courtesy of the San Diego Air & Space Museum).

John recalled that his father and business partner sold N4151N in 1952 to the Millers, who owned a small garage out by Ocotillo, California, and they kept the 140 in an open garage near their shop. John mentioned that the new owners used the old highway 80 (prior to interstate 8 being constructed) as their private runway to operate the 140 from for many years. Years later, John and his family noticed that N4151N had disappeared from the garage in Ocotillo and a number of years later, they had located it parked outside at the small dirt airstrip named Jacumba Airport. John said that when they saw the 140, it appeared to be in fairly rough condition and that his family had never seen it again after that day.

The remaining structure of Millers Garage. N4151N was typically parked under the portion of the collapsed garage structure. Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

In discussions with Mr. Bill Weaver, a nephew of the Millers, N4151N was flown mostly by his father (Bill Weaver) and uncle (Al Miller), throughout the years they owned the garage, however didn't recall what became of the airplane later in the time his family owned it. In 1992, the Miller/Weaver family sold N4151N and it had transitioned through one owner prior to being purchased by Mr. John Krueger in 1999, who found it almost completely disassembled and spread throughout various hangars at various airports.

Mr. Krueger put N4151N through a restoration to get it back to flying condition, which was completed in 2001. Mr. Kruger eventually sold N4151N in 2004 to Scott Sheldon where it remained based at Oxnard, California, until Josh Cawthra and his father Dave Cawthra purchased it in July of 2012.

From the time of purchase in 2012, Josh Cawthra has put the airplane through another extensive restoration while maintaining it in flyable condition and flying about 150 hours per year. The restoration work undertaken by Josh and a few friends of his included removal, inspection, and painting of the lift struts, gear legs, replaced the tailwheel with the original Scott 3-24B, new interior (seats, door panels, headliner, carpet, instrument bezels), D and door window replacement, new interior and exterior paint as well as an engine/propeller overhaul. The original aluminum wheel pants (an option for the 140) were also obtained throughout various sources and have been restored to their original condition. In addition, the restoration and maintenance of the polished aluminum finish (continuous work that never ends). The fabric wings are the only original item that remains from the 2001 restoration, and are slated to be recovered sometime in 2016.

In September 2013, at the National Championship Air Races, Reno, Nevada, N4151N, outfitted with telemetry equipment, was utilized in testing of the altitude measuring equipment for the Unlimited Race Course required by the Federal Administration. During this flight, N4151N, piloted by Josh Cawthra, set the unofficial record for the slowest airplane and the only Cessna 140 to fly the Unlimited Race Course during race week while under the race waiver at a speed of 96.47 miles per hour and a lap time of 5 minutes and 1.7 seconds. If Josh was flying during the actual unlimited gold race, he would have been lapped/passed approximately 5 times by Steve Hinton Jr. in VooDoo, a modified North American P-51 over the course Josh’s one lap.

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Josh Crossing Home Pylon in N4151N (Courtesy of Dave Butler) Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

N4151N Owner History: June 2, 1947 -­­ First flown by Cessna Test Pilot Mr. Mort Brown June 5, 1947 -­­ Cessna Aircraft sold to Servair Corporation, Los Angeles, California June 5, 1947 – Sold to La Pressa Air Service, La Mesa, California July 21, 1947 – Sold to Geo Fogery, San Diego, California April 21, 1948 – Sold to B.P. Nance and L.J. Cooper, San Diego, California June 1, 1952 – Sold to H.G. Lewis, San Diego, CA June 28, 1952 – Sold to A. Miller, Millers Garage, El Centro, California May 15, 1986 – Sold to Billy Weaver (Miller's relative), Osotillo, California February 20, 1992 – Sold to Donald Hall, Stateline, Nevada May 29, 1999 – Sold to John Krueger, Redlands, California September 24, 2004 – Sold to Scott Sheldon, Santa Barbara, California July 6, 2012 – Sold to the Cawthra Family (Current Owners)

Modifications (all items considered to be safety and/or reliability related): Shoulder Harnesses Leading Edge Landing Light Light Weight Alternator Light Weight Starter Cleveland Brakes O-­­200 Crankshaft STC (due to lack of availability of C-­­85 crankshafts) Modern (Comm, Intercom, and Transponder)

Awards: 2013 – Arlington Airshow: Classic, Arlington, Washington - Champion 2014 – Arlington Airshow: Classic, Arlington, Washington – Reserve Grand Champion 2014 – Hood River WAAM Fly In, Hood River, Oregon - Best Classic 2014 – National Aviation Heritage Invitational, Reno, Nevada – Paul E. Garber Trophy

Special Thanks to and/or Restoration Help From: Dave and Candy Cawthra (Mom and Dad), Janel Cawthra (Josh's wife and one absolutely patient and understanding woman), Dustin Peterson, Jeff Poschwatta, Dennis James, Earl Hibler, Andrew Hall, John Kent, Mark Platt, Lorraine Morris, Jeff Bartlett, Dan Meritt, Kasey, Linda, and Jamel from the Auburn Airport Management Group (Auburn, WA), Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club, Washington Pilots Association Green River Chapter, and the International Cessna 120/140 Owners Association.

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Newspaper Clippings for the 1949 All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby)

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

WASP History

In 1942, the first women to fly for the American Military reported for duty at New Castle Army Airbase, Wilmington, Delaware. Known as the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, the WAFS played a vital role in World War II. The WAFS were merged into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in August 1943 training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas. In addition to ferrying all the aircraft in the Air Force inventory, these women performed numerous other flying duties including target towing, test flights, VIP transport, drone work, and instructing men to fly. They flew non-combat military missions so that all their male counterparts could be deployed to combat.

They were never awarded full military status and were ineligible for officer status. Following the war, the women pilots paid their own way home and for the 38 women who died in the line of duty, their families had to pay the costs to transport their bodies and arrange burials. It was not until 1977 that the WASPS were granted veterans status.

On June 16, 2009, US House of Representatives passed the legislation honoring the Women Air Service Pilots of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Top Civilian Honor. Of the 1,102 women who received their wings as WASPS, approximately 300 are living today.

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Ruth Gamber 9/14/1917 – 2/28/1991 WASP Class: 43-W-4 Base Assignments: New Castle Army Air Base, Craig Army Air Field, Romulus Army Air Base Aircraft Flown: BT-13, PT-19, AT-6, B-24, C-47

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Dorthea Shultz WASP Class: 43-W-4 Base Assignments: Camp Davis Army Air Field, Romulus Army Air Base Aircraft Flown: L-4, L-5, A-24, A-25, AT-11, AT-7, RB-37, UC- 78, PQ-8, PQ-14, P-63, BT-13

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Ruth Gamber (Left) and Dorthea Shultz (Right) in front of a PT-19A

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

:

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

N4151N along with multiple other airplanes at a dirt airstrip in southern California. Also in the photo are Plez Nance, Leonard Cooper, and Ruth Gamber. The date and exact location of the photo are unknown. (Courtesy of John Nance) Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Restoration of the Polished Finish

Before

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Landing Gear Leg Inspection / Paint

Before

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Original Paint from 2001 Restoration

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

New Paint (2014) – Original 1947 Theme

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Original Interior (Was already installed at time of purchase in 2012)

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

New / Updated Interior

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Engine/Propeller Overhaul

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

2012:

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

2014:

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873

Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873 Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873 Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873 Cessna 140, N4151N, S/N: 13873