The Cessna T.303 Crusader is a twin-engine 6-seat corporate and utility transport aircraft, built by
the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The Cessna T303 accommodates next to the cockpit
crew of 2 pilots, 4 passengers. Model 303 was designed as a four seat light twin replacement for Cessna
Model 310. The prototype of the by two 120kW (160hp) Lycoming O320 engines powered Cessna Model 303 Clipper,
was flown first on 14 February 1978. However, it was soon realised that the market demand was for a larger
aircraft, and the Model 303 design was developed into a six seater aircraft. The new model, designated T303
for its turbocharged Continental TSIO-520 SER fuel injected engines, flew for the first time on 17 October 1979.
After the FAA Type certification was awarded in 1981, the first production
Cessna T303 Crusaders were delivered in 1981. When after four years the
production of the T303 ended: 299 airframes were built and delivered. The ICAO code for the Cessna T.303 is C303.
Cessna T.303 Crusader PH-VGA is operated by Aero Noord Nederland on business
flights and crew training out of Hoogeveen and is the only two-engined plane based at Hoogeveen aerodrome
in the Netherlands. The 1982-built Cessna T303 Crusader N6503C arrived at Hoogeveen on delivery out of
Reykjavik on 3 December 1993. The registration N6503C was cancelled on 10 December 1993. The Crusader was
registered PH-VGA in the Netherlands with Chagall Veeningen BV, Veeningen, on 20 December 1993. The next day, Cessna T.303
Crusader operated its first flight as PH-VGA. On 14 May 2009, the PH-VGA was registered with M.H.A. Brinkman Beheer BV, Emmen.
On 21 December 2011, registration PH-VGA was cancelled as sold in the USA. On 10 February 2012, Cessna T.303 Crusader c/n T30300157
was registered N303MB with Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. Trustee, Ditchingham Bungay, United Kingdom. On 4 March 2016, Cessna
T.303 Crusader N303MB was registered with N303MB Corp Trustee, Wilmington, Delaware. However the aircraft was sold in France it
remained registered N303MB in the USA.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
