General Aviation

Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Manufacturer: Cessna

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four‑seat, single‑engine, high‑wing aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear. First flown in 1955, it has become the most produced aircraft in history, with more than 44,000 units built by 2015. Its simple, reliable design has made it a staple of flight training, personal transport, and light utility operations worldwide.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
cessna-172
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
20,637
Example Registration
N1001M

Specifications

Wingspan
11 m / 36.1 ft
Length
8.3 m / 27.2 ft
Height
2.7 m / 8.9 ft
Max Speed
302 km/h / 188 mph
Cruise Speed
226 km/h / 140 mph
Range
1289 km / 801 mi
Ceiling
4267 m / 14000 ft
First Flight
1955-06-12
Production Start
1956-01-01
Production End
1986
Total Built
44000

Aircraft Overview

History

The 172 evolved from the 1948 Cessna 170, adding tricycle gear and a new tailfin. Production began in 1956 and the model quickly became a sales hit, with 1,400 built that year alone. Production paused in 1986 due to liability costs but resumed in 1996 with the 172R. Over the decades, the aircraft has remained in continuous production, with variants updated for power, avionics, and comfort.

Design

The 172 features a high wing, fixed tricycle gear, and a straight aft fuselage. Early models had a straight tailfin, later replaced by a swept‑back fin in 1960. The 1963 172D introduced the “Omni‑Vision” rear window and a lower rear deck. The aircraft’s design allows for numerous STC modifications, including higher‑power engines, constant‑speed props, and fuel‑injected powerplants.

Variants

Key variants include the 172A (swept tail), 172B (shorter gear), 172C (fiberglass wingtips), 172D (Omni‑Vision), 172E–F (electrical upgrades), 172I (Lycoming O‑320), 172P (higher gross weight), 172Q Cutlass (180 hp), 172R (fuel‑injected), 172S Skyhawk SP (180 hp, higher weight), and the retractable‑gear 172RG Cutlass RG. French‑licensed Reims Rocket versions and the military T‑41 Mescalero also belong to the family.

Operations

The 172 is widely used for flight training, personal and business travel, and light utility work such as aerial patrol, search‑and‑rescue, pipeline inspection, and law‑enforcement observation. Government agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol and various air forces, operate the aircraft for surveillance and training. The T‑41 Mescalero variant served as a primary trainer for the U.S. Air Force.

Notable Facts

  • First flown on 12 June 1955.
  • More than 44,000 units built, making it the most produced aircraft ever.
  • Robert Timm and John Cook set a 64‑day endurance record in a 172 in 1958‑1959.
  • The U.S. Border Patrol operates a fleet of 172s for aerial surveillance.
  • The T‑41 Mescalero, a military variant, trained U.S. Air Force pilots in the 1960s.
  • Reims Aviation produced the French‑licensed Rocket version of the 172.
  • The 172R was the first 172 model to feature a factory‑fitted fuel‑injected engine.

Variants

  • 172M- 3,580 registrations - Example N100CG
  • 172N- 3,139 registrations - Example N1014F
  • 172S- 1,916 registrations - Example N10033
  • 172- 1,805 registrations - Example N100AW
  • 172S- 1,155 registrations - Example N100LE
  • 172P- 1,111 registrations - Example N105JK
  • 172K- 1,027 registrations - Example N102LA
  • 172L- 859 registrations - Example N1001M
  • 172H- 779 registrations - Example N105RD
  • 172F- 719 registrations - Example N100K
  • 172G- 719 registrations - Example N107PS
  • 172R- 682 registrations - Example N100LU
  • 172E- 616 registrations - Example N100WA
  • 172D- 471 registrations - Example N111MF
  • 172RG- 450 registrations - Example N107RC
  • 172A- 432 registrations - Example N1171B
  • 172B- 411 registrations - Example N120DH
  • 172C- 362 registrations - Example N115MB
  • 172I- 355 registrations - Example N128CG
  • SKYHAWK- 25 registrations - Example N1502W
  • 172Q- 13 registrations - Example N121VK
  • SKYHAWK- 4 registrations - Example N138SE
  • 172p skyhawk- 1 registrations - Example N40SP
  • A-4C SKYHAWK- 1 registrations - Example N2262Z
  • FR 172 J- 1 registrations - Example N833ZZ
  • FR 172 K- 1 registrations - Example N103AL
  • MX SPRINT II SKYHAWK- 1 registrations - Example N7670T
  • SKYHAWK- 1 registrations - Example N70470
  • TA-4J SKYHAWK- 1 registrations - Example N128TA

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources