Cessna 172 : Information Page

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Cessna 172 Skyhawk

(Data for Cessna 172N)

* TYPE: Four-seat light aircraft.
* PERIOD BUILT: 1968-1981
* COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
* ENGINE: One Lycoming O-320-H2AD flat four piston engine of 160 hp.
* DIMENSIONS:
* Wing span: 35 ft 10 in / 10.92 m.
* Length: 26 ft 11 in / 8.21 m
* Height: 8 ft 10 in / 2.68 m.
* WEIGHTS:
* Empty: 1,430 lb / 649 kg
* Max. takeoff: 2,300 lb / 1,043 kg
* PERFORMANCE:
* Max. speed: 125 kt / 232 kph
* Max. cruise: 122 kt / 226 kph
* Initial climb: 770 ft per min.
* Service ceiling: 14,200 ft
* Max. range: 575 mls / 1,065 km. with 45 min reserve & standard fuel.
* CAPACITY: Typical seating for four in all models.

Cessna's earlier 172 Skyhawk had achieved some success when, in 1968, the Lycoming O-320 version was introduced. With two less cylinders than the Continental O-300 six-piston Skyhawks, the alteration meant lower overhaul costs.
Cessna expected the new 172 to have only limited success, in view of the release of the Cessna 177 Cardinal at the same time. However, the 172 was a great success.
The Skyhawk went through a series of developments in terms of aerofoil redesign, wider track undercarriage, increased fuel capacity options, reshaped windows and an optional higher standard "II" equipment package. High performance variants included the R172 Hawk XP, with a 195 hp engine, and the 172RG, with retracting undercarriage and a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine. Production models ran from the 172I of 1968 to the 172P of 1985.
The 172 remained the most common Cessna model in civilian use in Australia in 2002, with 946 Skyhawks and 46 of the 172RG Cutlass

Cessna 172

The Cessna 172, or Skyhawk, received its type certificate from the FAA in 1955. It is an all-metal four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane with one door under each wing. The 172 was designed to replace the Cessna 170, which used conventional (tailwheel) gear instead of tricycle (nosewheel) gear.

The Skyhawk is one of the world's most popular flight training aircraft -- nearly every pilot in the western world has spent at least some time flying one. Historically, the Skyhawk's main competitors have been the Piper Cherokee, which is also very common, and the Beechcraft Musketeer, which is rarer and no longer in production. The older Skyhawks shipped with a 145 horsepower engine; later planes shipped with engines up to 180 horsepower, though 150 or 160 is more common. Cessna produced a retractable-gear version of the 172 named the 177RG Cutlass, and also produced versions on floats. The normal cruising speed for a fixed-gear 172 ranges from about 105 to 125 knots, depending on the engine and vintage.

The Skyhawk is part of a large family of high-wing, tricycle-gear, single-engine Cessna planes, ranging from the two-seater 150/152 (no longer in production) to the more powerful 182 Cessna Skylane, the six-seat 206 Cessna Stationair, and the enormous fourteen-seat turboprop Cessna Caravan, along with several other models no longer produced.

BUYING A CESSNA 170

Many Cessna fans argue that the taildragging Cessna 170 was one of prettiest airplanes ever offered by the Wichita company. Indeed, a polished, bare aluminum 170 with only a few accent stripes is one of the most attractive airplanes on any ramp.

Perhaps, surprisingly, 170s haven't taken on the status of classic, despite their aesthetic attraction and numerous talents. The first 170s had fabric covering on the wings, but Cessna shifted to all-metal construction in 1949. Like the later 172s, 170s were compact little fourseaters that couldn't legally carry four full-sized folks. Two adults and two kids worked fine, however, and that's exacty how many of them were used. Count on 100 knots at optimum with everything against the wall on about 8.0 gph.

All-metal Cessna 170s from 1950-51 sold new for $8,145 with typical equipment, held steady at that value for a decade but, today, they're worth a minimum $23,000.