The name Cessna needs no introduction in a newsletter aimed at aviators and an aviation following, as this name is almost synonymous with aviation itself.
There is not an aviator alive who doesn’t know Cessna and I would venture that 90% or more of us have all flown in or even piloted a Cessna. Similarly to the pattern of the thousands who have flown in Cessnas, the pattern is somewhat repeated in Bateleurs missions. We have never made a count, from inception 25yrs ago and to date, of the aircraft brands used in all of our flights – we could do this but at the expense of a week long research task. Nevertheless it will be safe to say that Cessna have conducted more Bateleurs missions than any other single type. Surely then, this brand needs a salute from the Environmental Airforce.
Recent past Bateleurs e-Newsletters have featured microlight Trikes, Light Sport Aircraft, Helis, low wing aircraft, etc. and whilst there will be variety and models within these broader types of aircraft, none can boast the versatility within one brand which Cessna can. It is surely this depth of variation in their models which has made the Cessna such a widespread and sought after brand. From the lowly C150 two seater, to Citation jets and with cargo hauling Caravans somewhere in-between – its as if there is a Cessna for every occasion. I say “the lowly C150” but where it is lowly in stature, it is a giant and famous in the realm of pilot training. Before the advent of LSA there is no doubt that the inimitable C150 was THE training aeroplane of the World. When paging back through anyone’s pilot log book, an overwhelming majority which will have the C150 listed in the early stages of their flying.
I went to do a lookup of a once famous Cessna advertising line “The easiest aeroplane to fly” and here’s what I got…………..
The actual line that I wanted, relates to back in the day when Cessna went from a control Stick to a Control Column/Yoke and where a control stick might have been a tad multi-dimensional for some new pilots, a yoke was like the very familiar steering wheel of a car. Cessna made this re-modelling so neatly that one could/can almost take your feet off the rudder pedals and steer yourself around the skies – motor car style and hence “The easiest aeroplane to fly” being used in advertising the new yoke back in the day.
Bateleur’s missions have used Cessnas in every facet of our work, from routine anti-poaching patrols, environmental research, game counting and innumerable animal relocations. In just the past two years of Bateleurs work, Cessnas have relocated turtles, tortoises, lions, wild dogs, penguins, an otter, a rhino calf and more recently rhino oocytes (eggs). This is only what is top of mind, there are surely more examples, but suffice to say; as in the World of working aviation where Cessna's dominate, Cessna's have similarly worked harder with The Bateleurs, than any other brand.
Bats Pilot, Karl Jenssen - Cessna 170
Bats Pilot, Andrew Torr - Cessna 195, 1949 (EWT Blue Crane Overberg and Swartland Survey, 2024)
Cessna 210 - relocating lions
Cessna 208 Caravan - Wild dog relocation
If aircraft had attitudes, then Cessna’s would be “Bring it On” and this image/aircraft above is surely depictive of how many Cessna pilots view their “truck of the African skies”
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