Cessna 172 Skyhawk
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most-produced aircraft in aviation history, with more than 44,000 built since it first flew in 1955. Its simple, forgiving handling and fixed landing gear have made it the standard trainer for generations of student pilots worldwide. High wings give students and passengers a clear view of the ground, useful both for training and for sightseeing flights. Cessna has kept it in continuous, largely unchanged production for decades, a rare feat for any aircraft.
Did you know?
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most-produced aircraft in aviation history, with more than 44,000 built since 1955.
Specifications
| Length | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Height | 2.6 m (9 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 3 |
| Persons on board | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.1 t |
| Range | 696 NM (1,289 km) |
| Maximum speed | 163 kt (302 km/h) |
| Stall speed | 47 kt (87 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 13,500 ft (4,115 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 11,000 ft (3,353 m) |
| Rate of climb | 721 ft/min (3.7 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 514 m (1,686 ft) |
| Landing distance | 395 m (1,296 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 200 l |
| Engines | IO-360-L2A |
| Units built | 44,000 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Cessna 172 Skyhawk starts as a Common catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Cessna, the 172 Skyhawk family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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