The Model 165 Airmaster, also produced for military use as the C-34, is a single-engine aircraft manufactured by the Cessna aircraft company. The Airmaster played an important role in the revitalization of the Cessna aircraft company in the 1930s after the crash of the aviation industry during the Great Depression.

History
In the middle of the 1930s, as the Great Depression came to an end, the U.S. economy began to strengthen. This was good news for the Cessna Aircraft Company as Dwane Wallace (Clyde Cessna's nephew who was a recently-graduated aeronautical engineer) decided to assist his uncle in building more modern airplanes. The design of the first Airmaster is credited to Dwane Wallace, and with its first flight in the year 1934 the model was designated the C-34. Not long after introduction of the C-34, Clyde Cessna retired from aircraft-building activity, leaving the company to his nephew.

Features
The design of the C-34 incorporates characteristics that were borrowed from previous models of Cessna Aircraft. These similarities include the high mounted cantilever wing and the narrow design of the cabin windows. The wings and tail surfaces were composed entirely of wood while the fuselage was structured with steel tubing coupled with wooden stringers and formers. Both C-145 and C-165 models were offered with floats.

Related models
The original Airmaster, the Cessna C-34, evolved into more advanced versions of the Airmaster including the Cessna C-37 and the Cessna C-38. The upgrades to the C-37 included flaps that were mounted on the wing. On the C-38, a belly mounted drag flap was added. Changes common to both the C-37 and C-38 included wider fuselages and landing gears along with rubber engine mounts to hold the 145 HP Warner Super Scarab engine. The final revisions of the C-34 were the C-145 and the C-165. On these models, the belly flaps added on the C-38 were removed and the overall length of the fuselage was increased. The only difference between the C-145 and C-165 was the engine horsepower, with the latter having an upgraded 165 HP Warner engine.

Existing Aircraft (in the United States)
As of Dec. 31 2006 there are 69 aircraft in the FAA database with the listed Models (totals) being C-165 (30), C-145 (10), C-34 (8), C-37 (14), and C-38 (7). All are listed as powered by either the Warner SS165 or Warner SS40&50 engines (except that one is listed as powered by a SS185). The year of manufacture for these aircraft ranges from 1934 to 1941 and the serial numbers range from 254 to 588. It is not known how many actually exist and are in flying condition.

End of the line
It was with the beginning of World War II that the Airmaster line came to an end. The welded tubular fuselage, fabric covered body, extensive wood work, wooden wings and radial engines, all characteristic of 1930s-era aircraft technology, became too expensive and slow to produce. The old style aircraft was quickly replaced with aircraft constructed from aluminium with strut braced wings first seen in the Cessna 120.

Specifications

General characteristics
- Length: 7.52m (24 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 10.41m (34 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.36m (7ft 9 in)
- Airfoil: Clark Y
- Empty weight: 626 kg (1380 lbs)
- Loaded weight: 1066 kg (2350 lbs)
- Useful load: 434 kg (970 lbs)
- Powerplant: 1× Warner Super-Scarab Engine , 108 kW (145 hp)

Performance
- Maximum speed: 261 km/h (162 mph)
- Cruise speed: 243 km/h (151 mph)
- Range: 845-1263 km (525-785 miles)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1000 feet/min)