Operated by MAF in Arnhem Land and Mozambique, the single engine Cessna 210 carries 5 people or up to 400kg of supplies.
The full cantilever wing design to reduce drag, the lack of additional cargo pod, and the retractable undercarriage enables the 210 to travel at a faster speed than the similar sized 206.
The 210 has the speed and carrying capacity of many twin-engine aircraft, with the economy of only one engine. Its piston (Continental 10-550 Bon) engine produces 300hp. A three-bladed propellor designed especially for cruise flight pulls the aircraft through the air at the same speed as the larger Cessna Caravan.
With a cruising speed of 160mph, the 210 is useful for cross border journeys when a small number of passengers or small cargo load need to get to a location as quickly as possible. The 210 can do a return journey into neighbouring countries in the same day.
The faster speed enables people to reach their destinations quicker and maximise the time they have on the ground, helping the people they serve. With no extended range fuel tanks, the 210 can travel faster and get as far as the 206 but on less fuel.
Good STOL (short take off and landing) performance combined with speed means it is useful for medical emergency flights, reaching patients and bringing them to hospital as quickly as possible.
Short-term relief pilot Bryan Pill shares, ‘I always say if you had to own a single engine plane, a 210 is one of the nicest.’
Its speed, comfort and smoothness, as well as reduced maintenance times and costs make the 210 a valuable asset to MAF’s fleet.