Cessna 172R Skyhawk

Type (Muster)
Light single-engined aircraft (Einmotoriges Leichtflugzeug)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Cessna Aircraft Co.
One Cessna Boulevard
Wichita, Kansas 67215
USA

Phone: 001-316/941-6488
Fax: 001-316/941-7812

The piston-engine products of Cessna are actually built at a new facility in Independence, Kansas

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1
Passengers (Passagiere): 3
Baggage allowace (Gepäck): 54 kg

Power plant (Antrieb): Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A
Power (Leistung): 160 hp (119 kW) at 2400 rpm or 180 hp (135 kW) at 2700 rpm in the Skyhawk SP
Propeller: two-blade McCauley constant speed, 1,91 m diameter (Durchmesser)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 8,20 m
Height (Höhe): 2,72 m
Span (Spannweite): 11,00 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 16,2 sq m

Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,00 m
Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 3,61 m (inclusive baggage compartment)
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,22 m

Weights (Massen)
Standard empty weight (Leermasse ): 726 kg
Max. useful load (Zuladung): 389 kg or 434 kg in the Skyhawk SP
Usable fuel (ausfliegbarer Kraftstoff): 200,6 litres (53 gal)
Ramp weight (Rollmasse): 1114 kg
Take-off weight (Startmasse): 1111 kg or 1156 kg in the Skyhawk SP
Landing weight (Landemasse): 1111 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (Geschwindigkeit): 228 km/h at sea level, or 233 km/h for the Skyhawk SP
Cruise speed, 80 per cent power (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 226 km/h at 8000 ft
Cruise speed, 75 per cent power (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 228 km/h at 8500 ft for the Skyhawk SP
Stall speed (überziehgeschwindigkeit):
- 94 km/h, flaps up, full power
- 87 km/h, flaps down, power off
Take-off run (Startrollstrecke): 290 m
Take-off distance (Startstrecke): 515 m over 15 ft obstacle (15-m-HIndernis)
Landing distance (Landestrecke): 395 m over 15 ft obstacle
Landing run (Landerollstrecke): 168 m
Rate of climb (Steigrate): 3,65 m/s (720 fpm) or 730 fpm for the Skyhawk SP
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 4114 m (13500 ft)
Range (Reichweite): 1074 km at 80 % cruise at 8000 ft

Costs (Kosten)
The Skyhawk was offered at 124500 US-Dollars in 1997 and at 133700 US-Dollars in April 1998. The newly introduced Skyhawk SP was quoted as 149900 US-Dollars. Optional Nav I and Nav II avionics packages are available for an additional 13700 US-Dollars or 19300 US-Dollars respectively.

Customers (Kunden)
Cessna hopes to build hundreds of aircraft per year. Besides private individuals, there is much interest at flight schools. Early targets of 600 aircraft in 1997 and 1000 in 1998 are unlikely to be met.

Competition (Konkurrenz)
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior III

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
After a break of more than a decade, Cessna is re-entering the piston-single market with both the 172R Skyhawk and the 182S Skylane. Over 35000 Skyhawks had been built by 1985, when production was stopped.
With better market circumstances returning in the mid 90s, Cessna decided at the end of 1994 to build single-engine aircraft again. It modified an old 172N as a first prototype for the new Skyhawk incarnation. Flight tests commenced on 19. April 1995 at Wichita.
For certification work, three new 172Rs were built at Wichita, with the first flight on April 16, 1996. Production test pilot Lionel Diamond was at the controls for the 25 min hop from East Pawnee field. FAA certification to Part 23 was achieved only two months later, on 21. June 1996, after 145 hours.
In the meantime, a new factory was built at Independence, where the first production aircraft rolled out on 6. November 1996. Handover to the US AOPA followed on 18. January 1997. This Skyhawk was the big sweepstake price of the organization for 1996. First export aircraft was despatched to Australia on 30. January 1997, flying to Sydney in 59,4 hours.
In mid-March 1998, Cessna officially introduced the Skyhawk SP ("Special Performance") variant, which features a fuel-injected IO-360 with a higher rating, thus giving a bit more performance. FAR Part 23 certification is scheduled for completion by the end of June with deliveries beginning in the summer.

Last updated 3. April 1998

FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany