Cessna 172 Skyhawk

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a 4seater, single engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flew in 1955 and is still in production.More Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.

By far the most successful aircraft in aviation history Cessna 172 is still writing history today. Buy every aircraft sold today Cessna brakes every single time the record for most produced aircraft.Over 43000 Cessna 172 are produced by this date and many are to come. Even today that general aviation is strangling with high costs and new carbon and composite aircraft are more attractive, even now the Cessna 172 is a pilots first choice.

The 172 started is life as a tricycle version of the quite successful Cessna 170 (Taildrager), primarily targeted for training. Due to the added drag from the landing gear, the 172 was not as fast as the 172 but non the less its speed was more than adequate than other competitors. Firstly equipped with a 6cylinder Continental O-300-A (145bph) normally aspired carburettor engine i could cruse over 100 knots and climb above 12000ft, pretty good for its days.

This engine remained the standard engine until 1968, when the more modern, efficient and economical Lycoming O-320-E2D (150bhp) was introduced on Cessna 172I.Next big change was in 1977 when Cessna 172N introduced an not so reliable Lyc O-320-H2AD (160bhp) which demanded 100grade fuel due to higher cylinder compressions.Also in 1978 electrical system changed from 14 to 28 volts.

In 1982 C172P introduced a new engine(O-320-D2J) to cure the reliability issues of the other-way bullet proof 172N. But the success story came to a sudden stop. In 1986 production of Cessna 172 stopped due to laws implemented by US making the ownership and usage of a GA aircraft not affordable, making demand for new aircraft decline dramatically.

There were only 195 172s built in 1984, a rate of fewer than 4 per week

But the old bird had not lost its core values which made it so wanted. So the global demand for new Cessnas drove Cessna to restart production of 172 and introduce a great leap in Cessna design. In 1996 Cessna 172R was introduced with numerous improvements with most important the Lycoming IO-320-L2A with IO standing for fuel injection.

Shortly after in 1998 172S having to compete with the more powerful PA-28 came with IO-360-L2A which develops 180 bhp on takeoff due to the higher rev limit (rise to 2700 from 2400rpm) rising also the MTOW(Maximum Take Off Weight to 2,550 lb). Later 172S were offered with Garmin G1000 avionics package and leather seats as standard equipment.

As of 2009, only the S model is in production.

Alongside the production in US Reims Aviation was construction under license Cessnas in France.Minor deferences made great impact in the longevity of Reims Cessnas and today they hold by far greater value.

The FR172J Reims Rocket was produced by Reims Aviation in France from the late 60s to the mid 70s. It was powered by a Rolls-Royce built, fuel-injected, Continental IO-360D 210 hp (160 kW) engine with a constant speed prop.

The Reims Rocket led to Cessna producing the R172K Hawk XP, a model available from 1977 to 1981. This configuration featured a fuel injected, Continental IO-360K (later IO-360KB) derated to 195 hp (145 kW) with a two bladed, constant speed propeller. The Hawk XP was capable of a 131knt cruise speed.