Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Aviation

Cessna 172

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high-wing, fixed-wing aircraft produced by Cessna/Textron Aviation.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine aircraft. It is the most-produced aircraft in history, with over 44,000 built.

What it is

The Cessna 172 is a high-wing, tricycle-gear light aircraft developed as a successor to earlier tailwheel models. First flown in 1955 and introduced in 1956, it is known for stable handling and simple operation.

Why it matters

It is a global standard for flight training and personal aviation. In Canada, it is extensively used by flight schools, private pilots, and recreational flyers, making it a familiar sight in general aviation.

Key details

The aircraft typically cruises at 122 knots with a range of 696 nautical miles. Powered by a 180 hp Lycoming engine, it seats one pilot and three passengers. Over 44,000 have been built, and production continues under Textron Aviation.

In short

  • Most-produced aircraft in history (over 44,000 built)
  • Mainly used for flight training and personal flying
  • High-wing, stable handling, tricycle gear
  • Widely used in Canada by flight schools
Canadian angle

The Cessna 172 is widely used in Canada by flight schools, private pilots, and general aviation operators, making it familiar to Canadian aviation students and recreational flyers.

Quick questions

What is the Cessna 172 used for?
It is primarily used for flight training, personal flying, and general aviation.
How many people can it carry?
It typically seats one pilot and three passengers.
Is the Cessna 172 still in production?
Yes. Production resumed in 1998 after a pause and continues in modernized forms.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_172
    Supports: General specifications, dimensions, performance figures, and production summary.
  2. GlobalAir — https://www.globalair.com/aircraft-specifications/cessna/cessna-172-specifications/131
    Supports: First flight year, early production context, and total production claims.
  3. Purdue Aviation LLC — https://www.purdueaviationllc.com/storage/app/media/Data%20Sheets/C172SP%20Data%20Sheet.pdf
    Supports: Engine specification for a C172SP data sheet.
  4. Kansas State University Salina — https://www.k-state.edu/academic-success-student-affairs/campus-resources/flight-training/fleet/cessna.html
    Supports: Training use and sample operational performance/specification figures.
  5. Hillsboro Aero Academy — https://www.flyhpa.com/services/aircraft-sales-and-acquisitions/aircraft-info/cessna-aircraft/cessna-172-skyhawk/
    Supports: Training and personal-use role, successor relationship, and production claim.