Cessna 172 Skyhawk - all time most popular plane

More Cessna 172 than any other aircraft were built. Since production started in 1956, over 43,000 have rolled off the line, and continue to do so.

What explains the 172 popularity? It is a fortuitous combination of performance and utility that is difficult to overcome. Although very few pilots list the Skyhawk as its dream aircraft, is that many end up with. For decades was the step until the aircraft from learning to fly a Cessna 150. After a 150, the Skyhawk seemed to have loads of room, power and speed. Faced with the rapid increase the costs of purchase and fly larger and faster aircraft, many decided that the 172 had adapted very well to their needs.

It is difficult to imagine, but when it introduced the 172, which seemed a very modern aircraft. Remember, his immediate predecessor was the tail dragging 170 and aircraft before were mostly made of wood and fabric. To move up in the relatively quiet metal all 172 was a great leap in comfort and utility. Easier to land, cheaper maintain faster 10 knots and two more seats than your average queue drag point were the big points of sale, as the series of numbers.

Fuselage of the Skyhawk proved remarkably long lived. While the basic technology is more than half a century old, when you put modern avionics as G1000 Garmin in the instrument panel is difficult to tell the difference much new designs too.

The Skyhawk is also helped by docile handling characteristics. Generally not regarded as easy to land, has bad habits to speak of.

Although aircraft have never been cheap, 172 benefits from being at the lower end of the market so it is long have considered modern aircraft. It is also the first of what could be considered a useful aircraft to go somewhere. Anything less would have to consider more for recreation transport.

The purchase price is only the entrance fee to owning an aircraft. As unfortunately discovered many owners, is really an opportunity to spend more on gas, insurance, maintenance, inspection, replacement engine, hangers, and many other things that consume money funds. The Skyhawk is fortunate to have a simple design and low fuel (less than 10 gallons/hour) needs, some of these costs are reduced.

Although it is still producing the Skyhawk, have more competition than in its heyday. New composite designs are faster and how much, if not significantly more capable. But with a very broad pool of used aircraft, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is without doubt a popular airplane for many years to come.