Lockheed U3A/B


The Cessna 310 was the first twin-engine aircraft designed from Cessna to enter 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 (195 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.

In 1957, the US Air Force selected the Cessna 310 for service as a light utility aircraft for transport and administrative support.
The USAF purchased 160 unmodified 310 aircraft using the original designation L-27A, later changed to U-3A. An additional 35 upgraded U-3B models were delivered in 1960-61; these aircraft were equipped with the more powerful engines used in the 310C, and can be identified by their extra cabin windows, longer nose and swept vertical fin. USAF pilots often referred to the
U-3 as the "Blue Canoe."

Flown by the 103rd Tactical Air Support Squadron, Willow Grove, the U-3A/B was used to coordinate tactical air strikes and other operations for the National Guard. The twin-engine craft was nicknamed the "Blue Canoe" because of its color and shape. The 103rd flew the U-3 aircraft for only one year before receiving the O-2A as a replacement aircraft.

Length: 27 feet, 0 inches
Wingspan: 35 feet, 8 inches
Speed: 240 mph
Ceiling: 20,000 feet
Range: 1,000 miles
Engine: Two 240 hp (180 KW) Continental O-470-B engines or Two 260 hp (190 KW) Continental IO-470-D engines
Crew: One
Year: 1969-1970