<p>c/n  5765.
U.S.Military serial '43-31827'.
Built for the USAAF, the UC‑78 derivative of the Cessna Bobcat served as an executive and training aircraft. After the end of the Second World War, large numbers of these aircraft were sold to many countries as war surplus. Poland bought 21, all of which came from wartime production. Fourteen were brought to operational status, and the reminder served as a reserve of spare parts.
LOT Polish Airlines utilised Cessna Bobcats until 1949. Then, the sole remaining aircraft (registered 'SP-LEM') was handed over to the Aviation Institute, where it was re-registered as SP-GLC and used until 1962. In June 1953, two record-setting parachute jumps from altitudes of 4600 m and 4800 m were made from this aeroplane.
'SP-GLC' owed its long lifespan to the cannibalisation of other aircraft of the type. To immortalise this fact, "shark's jaws" were painted on the nose of the aeroplane. After signing off service in 1967, 'SP‑GLC' was donated to the Museum. It is displayed in the colour and markings of the Aviation Institute.
On display in the main display hangar at the Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego
Krakow, Poland.
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23-08-2013
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/65001151@N03">Alan Wilson</a> from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/15940459222/">Cessna UC-78 Bobcat 'SP-GLC'</a>