For Sale Cessna 172 Airplanes

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The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, and high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production and this type of aircraft has been built more than any other aircraft.

Measured by its longevity and popularity, it is the most successful mass produced light aircraft in history. The first production models were delivered in 1956 and they are still in production. As of 2008, more than 43,000 had been built. The Skyhawk's main competitors have been the Beechcraft Musketeer and Grumman AA-5 series (neither in production), the Piper Cherokee and, more recently, the Diamond DA40.

This aircraft started life as a tricycle landing gear variant of the tail dragger, with a basic level of standard equipment. The first flight of the prototype was in November 1955. The 172 became an overnight sales success and over 1,400 were built in 1956, its first full year of production.

Early one seventy twos were similar in appearance to the 170, with the same straight aft fuselage and tall gear legs, although the one seventy two had a straight vertical tail while the 170 had a rounded fin and rudder. Later one seventy twos versions incorporated revised landing gear and the sweptback tail which is still in use today. The final aesthetic development in the mid-1960s was a lowered rear deck that allowed an aft window. Cessna advertised this added rear visibility as "Omni-Vision". This airframe configuration has remained almost unchanged since then, except for updates in avionics and engines, including the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit in 2005. Production had been halted in the mid-1980s, but was resumed in 1996 with the 160 hp (120 kW) 172R and was supplemented in 1998 by the 180 hp (135 kW) 172S.

Future Models

On October 4, 2007 Cessna announced its plan to build a diesel-powered Cessna 172 model starting in mid-2008. The planned engine was to be a Thielert Centurion 2.0, liquid-cooled, two-litre displacement, dual overhead cam, four-cylinder, in-line, turbo-diesel with full authority digital engine control. The engine produced 155 hp (116 kW) and burns Jet-A fuel. The engines were to be installed at the Cessna Skyhawk factory in Independence, Kansas under an STC. The new model was designated the 172 Skyhawk TD, indicating "Turbo Diesel".

Cessna had taken special measures to ensure that the Skyhawk TD would be only fueled with Jet-A and not misfueled with avgas. These included placards, key-shaped tank fillers that only accept jet fuel nozzles and a spring-loaded door activated with a jet-fuel nozzle. The aircraft was planned to be certified for Jet-A only and not automotive diesel.

The TD was to be equipped with only one engine control, referred to as a "power control", although it resembled the push-pull style throttle used in previous 172 models.

The prototype has no carburetor heat or mixture control. The prototype is equipped with a constant speed MT propeller, but this is controlled automatically and there is no propeller rpm control.

The TD was designed to have the same gross weight as the "S" Skyhawk, 2,552 lb (1,158 kg), but at 155 hp (116 kW) was intended to have 25 hp (19 kW) less than the "S" model. Because it is turbo normalized the prototype's engine produces full power at all altitudes and actually puts out more power than the "R" and "S" models above 8,500 feet (2,600 m), where the normally aspirated powerplant's output drops off.

To account for the fact that Jet-A has a higher density than avgas Cessna planned to reduce the tank capacity on the TD to 44.6 US gallons, giving the aircraft a similar range to other models, due to the better efficiency of the diesel engine. The Thielert 2.0 is reported to burn 5.8 gal/hr at 5,000 feet and 75% power. This compares to 8 gal/hr at the same power setting and altitude for the "R" model and 10 gal/hr for the "S" model Skyhawks.

Even with the reduced fuel tank capacity the full fuel payload of the TD will be 445 lb compared to 519 lb (235 kg) for the Cessna 172S and 440 lb for the 172R.

Direct operating costs for the TD were forecast to be $96.39 per hour versus $101.81 for the higher powered "S" model. While the TD would burn less fuel per hour its engine replacement costs at 2400 hours, instead of overhaul, would almost make up for the difference, although these numbers will change as the price of fuel changes in future years.

In early 2008 certification had been planned for the summer of 2008 and Cessna had forecast delivering about 125 TDs before the end of 2008.

The TD was intended to sell for about $15,000 more than the top of the line "SP" Skyhawk and $35,000 more than the "R". Base price was initially advertised as $269,500 versus $254,500 for the "SP" or $234,500 for the "R".

Early orders for the TD were strong with most of the demand from flight schools and non-US operators.

In April 2008 the 172TD's engine manufacturer, Thielert filed for insolvency under German law, throwing the future of the aircraft into doubt.

On May 1, 2008 Cessna announced that they have cancelled all 2008 deliveries of the 172TD due to the insolvency of Thielert. The company stated: "At this point we have decided that we will not deliver 172TD aircraft during 2008, and we have informed our customers accordingly." Cessna has indicated, however, that they will proceed with the certification of the 172TD.

Cessna has indicated that they still wish to produce a diesel 172 as market demand is strong for this aircraft with over 100 orders.

August 28, 2010