Cessna 150M Specs: Weights, V-Speeds, Cruise

Q: How much fuel does a Cessna 150M hold?

22.5 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 5.8 GPH that is roughly 3.9 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

Q: What is the useful load of a Cessna 150M?

About 540 lb for a typically equipped example (1600 lb max gross minus a typical empty weight of 1060 lb). Use your aircraft's own weight-and-balance records, not type averages.

Q: What is the Vne of a Cessna 150M?

VNE (never exceed) is 141 kt and VNO (max structural cruising) is 107 kt. Verify against the POH for your serial number.

Home › Aircraft › Cessna 150M

In the FlightDecide app since 2026-07-16. Reviewed 2026-09-28. 6 of 7 tables from the handbook. Anything marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” comes from FlightDecide's earlier library and hasn't been checked against the printed page.

Cessna 150M preflight numbers at a glance: max gross weight 1600 lb, typical useful load 540 lb, 22.5 gal usable fuel, cruise up to about 107 KTAS (reference figure at 6000 ft, standard day). 6 of the 7 performance tables below are read from the published POH/AFM; treat the ones marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” as estimates. Use them for planning and study, and confirm against the POH for your specific serial number before flight.

Cessna 150M specs and key numbers

Not yet verified against the handbook

Engine	Continental O-200-A
Propeller	Sensenich 69EM6-0-56
Max gross weight	1600 lb
Empty weight (typical)	1060 lb
Useful load (typical)	540 lb
Usable fuel	22.5 gal
Service ceiling	14,000 ft

Cessna 150M V-speeds

Not yet verified against the handbook

Knots indicated (KIAS) unless the POH states otherwise. Speeds vary by model year and serial; the placarded speeds and your POH govern.

Speed	Value	Meaning
V_S0	42 kt	Stall, landing configuration
V_S1	47 kt	Stall, clean configuration
V_X	56 kt	Best angle of climb
V_Y	68 kt	Best rate of climb
V_A	97 kt	Design maneuvering speed (at max gross)
V_FE	85 kt	Max flaps extended
V_NO	107 kt	Max structural cruising
V_NE	141 kt	Never exceed
Best glide	60 kt	Best glide speed

Cessna 150M cruise performance

Not yet verified against the handbook

Source not verified: these rows are the library's earlier transcription, and the pages they cite have not been checked against the handbook. True airspeed and fuel flow depend on altitude, power setting, temperature and leaning technique.

Source: Figure 5-7

Recommended lean mixture: 90 published rows
Pressure altitude	RPM	ISA-20 °C			ISA			ISA+20 °C
Pressure altitude	RPM	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH
2,000 ft	2,200	47	83	3.7	44	82	3.5	42	81	3.3
2,000 ft	2,300	54	87	4.1	50	87	3.9	47	86	3.7
2,000 ft	2,400	62	92	4.7	57	91	4.3	53	91	4.1
2,000 ft	2,500	70	97	5.3	65	96	4.9	60	95	4.6
2,000 ft	2,600	80	102	6.0	73	101	5.5	68	100	5.1
2,000 ft	2,650				78	103	5.9	72	102	5.4
4,000 ft	2,200	45	82	3.5	42	81	3.3	40	80	3.2
4,000 ft	2,300	51	87	3.9	48	86	3.7	45	85	3.5
4,000 ft	2,400	58	91	4.4	54	91	4.1	50	90	3.9
4,000 ft	2,500	66	96	5.0	61	95	4.6	57	95	4.3
4,000 ft	2,600	75	101	5.6	69	100	5.2	64	99	4.8
4,000 ft	2,700				78	105	5.8	72	104	5.4
6,000 ft	2,300	48	86	3.7	45	85	3.5	42	84	3.4
6,000 ft	2,400	54	91	4.2	51	90	3.9	48	89	3.7
6,000 ft	2,500	62	95	4.7	57	95	4.3	53	94	4.1
6,000 ft	2,600	70	100	5.2	64	99	4.8	60	98	4.5
6,000 ft	2,700	79	105	5.9	73	104	5.4	67	103	5.1
6,000 ft	2,750				77	107	5.8	71	105	5.3
8,000 ft	2,300	46	85	3.6	43	84	3.4	40	82	3.2
8,000 ft	2,400	52	90	4.0	48	89	3.7	45	88	3.5
8,000 ft	2,500	58	95	4.4	54	94	4.1	51	93	3.9
8,000 ft	2,600	65	99	4.9	60	99	4.6	57	98	4.3
8,000 ft	2,700	74	104	5.5	68	103	5.1	63	102	4.8
10,000 ft	2,400	49	89	3.8	45	88	3.6	43	87	3.4
10,000 ft	2,500	55	94	4.2	51	93	3.9	48	92	3.7
10,000 ft	2,600	61	99	4.6	57	98	4.3	53	97	4.1
10,000 ft	2,700	69	103	5.2	64	102	4.8	59	102	4.5
12,000 ft	2,400	46	89	3.6	43	87	3.4	41	84	3.3
12,000 ft	2,500	52	93	4.0	48	92	3.7	45	91	3.5
12,000 ft	2,600	58	98	4.4	54	97	4.1	50	96	3.9
12,000 ft	2,650	61	100	4.6	57	99	4.3	53	98	4.1

How much runway does a Cessna 150M need?

Handbook figures at 1600 lb, 0 ft pressure altitude, 10 °C. Real-world technique, wind, surface, and density altitude move these substantially, so apply your own margin (many pilots use 1.5× the book number) and run the numbers for the actual conditions.

Handbook figure	Distance
Takeoff ground roll	710 ft
Takeoff over a 50 ft obstacle	1335 ft
Landing ground roll	440 ft
Landing over a 50 ft obstacle	1065 ft
Rate of climb	655 fpm

See how density altitude stretches these distances on a hot day.

Takeoff distance

Flaps up, full throttle prior to brake release, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 150M (1976) · Takeoff Distance

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 1,600 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	655 / 1,245	710 / 1,335	765 / 1,435	820 / 1,540	880 / 1,650
1,000 ft	720 / 1,365	775 / 1,465	835 / 1,575	900 / 1,690	970 / 1,815
2,000 ft	790 / 1,500	855 / 1,615	920 / 1,735	990 / 1,865	1,065 / 2,005
3,000 ft	870 / 1,650	935 / 1,780	1,010 / 1,915	1,090 / 2,065	1,170 / 2,225
4,000 ft	955 / 1,820	1,030 / 1,965	1,115 / 2,125	1,200 / 2,290	1,290 / 2,475
5,000 ft	1,050 / 2,015	1,140 / 2,185	1,230 / 2,360	1,325 / 2,555	1,430 / 2,770
6,000 ft	1,160 / 2,245	1,255 / 2,435	1,360 / 2,640	1,465 / 2,870	1,580 / 3,120
7,000 ft	1,282 / 2,501	1,382 / 2,714	1,504 / 2,953	1,620 / 3,224	1,746 / 3,514
8,000 ft	1,416 / 2,787	1,521 / 3,024	1,663 / 3,304	1,791 / 3,621	1,929 / 3,958
9,000 ft	1,564 / 3,105	1,674 / 3,370	1,838 / 3,696	1,980 / 4,068	2,131 / 4,458

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Landing distance

Flaps 40 deg, power off, maximum braking, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 150M (1976) · Landing Distance

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 1,600 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	425 / 1,045	440 / 1,065	455 / 1,090	470 / 1,110	485 / 1,135
1,000 ft	440 / 1,065	455 / 1,090	470 / 1,110	485 / 1,135	505 / 1,165
2,000 ft	455 / 1,090	470 / 1,115	490 / 1,140	505 / 1,165	520 / 1,185
3,000 ft	470 / 1,115	490 / 1,140	505 / 1,165	525 / 1,195	540 / 1,215
4,000 ft	490 / 1,140	505 / 1,165	525 / 1,195	545 / 1,225	560 / 1,245
5,000 ft	510 / 1,170	525 / 1,195	545 / 1,225	565 / 1,255	585 / 1,285
6,000 ft	530 / 1,200	545 / 1,225	565 / 1,255	585 / 1,285	605 / 1,315
7,000 ft	550 / 1,230	570 / 1,260	590 / 1,290	610 / 1,320	630 / 1,350
8,000 ft	570 / 1,260	590 / 1,290	610 / 1,320	630 / 1,350	655 / 1,385
9,000 ft	591 / 1,291	611 / 1,321	631 / 1,351	651 / 1,381	681 / 1,421
10,000 ft	612 / 1,322	632 / 1,352	652 / 1,382	672 / 1,412	708 / 1,458

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Rate of climb

Flaps up, full throttle

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 150M (1976) · Rate of Climb

Rate of climb in feet per minute at 1,600 lb
Pressure altitude	-20 °C	0 °C	20 °C	40 °C
Sea level	770	710	655	595
1,000 ft	722	662	608	548
2,000 ft	675	615	560	500
3,000 ft	628	568	512	452
4,000 ft	580	520	465	405
5,000 ft	532	475	420	358
6,000 ft	485	430	375	310
7,000 ft	438	382	328	262
8,000 ft	390	335	280	215
9,000 ft	342	288	232	168
10,000 ft	295	240	185	120

from the handbook interpolated extrapolated beyond the handbook

Stall speeds

Power off, most forward center of gravity, 1600 lb

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 150M (1976) · Stall Speeds

KIAS (bold) over KCAS
Flap setting	0°	30°	45°	60°
Flaps up	47 / 49	51 / 53	56 / 58	66 / 69
Flaps 10°	45 / 46	48 / 49	54 / 55	64 / 65
Flaps 40°	42 / 42	45 / 45	50 / 50	59 / 59

Common Questions

How fast does a Cessna 150M cruise?

Per the library's cruise table, not yet verified against the handbook, up to about 107 KTAS at 6000 ft on a standard day, burning roughly 5.8 GPH at that setting. Typical everyday cruise settings run slower and leaner; see the table above.

How much fuel does a Cessna 150M hold?

22.5 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 5.8 GPH that is roughly 3.9 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

What is the useful load of a Cessna 150M?

About 540 lb for a typically equipped example (1600 lb max gross minus a typical empty weight of 1060 lb). Your aircraft's actual empty weight and CG come from its own weight-and-balance records. Always use those, not type averages.

What is the Vne of a Cessna 150M?

V_NE (never exceed) is 141 kt and V_NO (max structural cruising) is 107 kt. Full V-speed table above; verify against the POH for your serial.

Plan a flight in this aircraft

Crosswind Calculator

Check today's wind against your personal crosswind maximum.

Density Altitude Calculator

See what heat and elevation do to these takeoff and climb numbers.

The Go/No-Go Decision Framework

Fold these numbers into a structured preflight decision.

Fly a Cessna 150M? Get the full picture in seconds.

FlightDecide ships this aircraft as a built-in profile: it computes your fuel, weight and balance, and takeoff/landing performance for the actual conditions, scores 8 risk categories against your personal minimums, and explains the result in plain language.

Get FlightDecide on the App Store

Reference data for planning and study: approximate, and not a substitute for the FAA-approved AFM/POH for your specific aircraft, an official weather briefing, or your judgment as pilot in command (14 CFR 91.3). Source: Cessna Model 150M Pilot's Operating Handbook, Part Number D1080-13, Cessna Aircraft Company (1977 issuance). Cruise performance rows transcribed verbatim from Section 5 Performance, Figure 5-7 Cruise Performance, page 5-14. Conditions: 1600 lb, Recommended Lean Mixture at all altitudes. Engine red line (Teledyne Continental O-200-A): 2750 RPM, Section 2 Limitations page 2-5. Data synced from the FlightDecide aircraft library on 2026-09-28.