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The power required to fly is disproportionate with the weight increase. Drawing a comparison between the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and the Cessna 182 Skylane is intriguing, given their shared lineage from the renowned Cessna brand. Both aircraft, designed to accommodate four passengers and equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, are testaments to Cessna’s commitment to quality, reliability, and aviation excellence. Cessna 172 Skyhawk – The Cessna 172 features a fixed tricycle landing gear. This design simplifies operations and reduces maintenance costs since there are no retractable parts.
Performance
Among Cessna’s vast fleet, the Cessna 172 and 182 stand out as two of the most popular and widely recognized models. While they may seem similar at a glance, understanding the nuanced differences between these two aircraft can be crucial for potential buyers, flight schools, and aviation enthusiasts alike. You do lose some climb performance, but in most aircraft, it's an acceptable (and sometimes almost imperceivable) loss of climb performance, in exchange for faster forward airspeed in the climb. The Cessna 172 is a single-engine, two-seat, high-wing airplane designed for the general aviation market, ranking as one of the most popular planes ever. It provides impressive features, including a respectable top speed and cruising speed. This guide will explain what the top speed of this plane is, along with other key features.
Fuel Capacity

The list of Skyhawk modifications available feels almost endless, and because of how long many have been about, supplemental type certificates have been issued to most of them. The current price for a factory-fresh Skyhawk, in its Cessna 172S version, is between $369,000 and $438,000. This difference is due to options available to the pilot, as the avionics suite. The Cessna 750 Citation X is a more advanced business jet with significantly more size and features when compared to the smaller 172 planes. If you have doubts about the Cessna 172 and how well it flies, it is worth noting that this plane has set the world record twice for the longest refueled flight endurance.
When Is A Cruise Climb speed Published?
Cessna 172 Skyhawk – The Cessna 172’s engine, the Lycoming IO-360-L2A, is known for its reliability. This means fewer unexpected maintenance trips and cost savings in the long run. Introduced a few years after the 172, the Cessna 182, commonly referred to as the “Skylane,” made its debut in 1956.

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This improved version of the Cessna 170 also provides a cruising speed of 141 MPH. With over 44,000 created, it is the most popular aircraft ever made. However, diving deeper into its capabilities, the 182 Skylane emerges as the more robust contender, boasting superior power, cruising speed, cabin space, and range. This doesn’t diminish the 172 Skyhawk’s merits, which shines in its cost-effectiveness. Not only is it more affordable to acquire, but its maintenance costs are also commendably lower, making it a cost-efficient choice for similar journeys. In general aviation, few names resonate as powerfully as Cessna.
The landing gear’s ruggedness allows students to improve their touchdowns without damaging the airplane in both short and long runs. It can reach top speeds of 135 miles per hour and a maximum flying range of 540 miles on one full tank of fuel. It is a much lighter plane, too, with a compact construction and a weight of 1,320 pounds. The Cessna 172 is one of the most popular planes for private pilots. It is a lightweight, single-engine aircraft that an average person can fly. However, the popularity of the previous 172 with Cessna dealers and flight schools prompted the cancellation of the replacement plan, and the 172J was instead introduced as the 177 and sold alongside the 172.
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Cruise speed/endurance w/45-min rsv, std fuel (fuel consumption, ea engine) @ 75% power, best economy
The “do not exceed” speed of 151 KCAS on the Cessna 172F has risen to 158 KCAS on the 172N and again to 160 KCAS on the 172R. The cruising speed of 122 KCAS was slightly boosted to 126 KCAS on all latter variants. Clean stall speeds are nearly identical across the three – 50 KCAS for both the Cessna 172F and 172N, but 51 KCAS on the 172R. This difference is more pronounced in landing configurations, where the 172F stalls at 43 knots, growing to 44 knots for the 172N and finally 47 knots on the 172R.
"Normal enroute climbs are performed with flaps up and full throttle and at speeds 5 to 10 knots higher than best rate-of-climb speeds for the best combination of performance, visibility, and engine cooling." Once you've reached pattern altitude or 1,000', transitioning to cruise climb speed might be a good idea. Lycoming and the FAA worked in tandem and, through a series of modifications mandated by airworthiness directives, solved the issues on the H2AD model and turned it into a safe and reliable engine. Still, after the ‘shock’ experienced, Lycoming reverted most of the design choices found in the H2AD when making its successor. The O-320-H2AD had problems with its camshaft and lifter, which on a good day affected performance; and on a bad one, led to metal chips finding their way into the aircraft’s oil system.
However, as far as baggage capacity goes, all three models are limited by the luggage storage’s restrictions of up to 120 lbs. Later models like the Cessna 172R came with another O-320 series engine, this time the IO-360-L2A with 360cu.in. This is the same engine fitted on the 172S model currently in production. However, other 310 variants with more advanced designs can go even faster. For example, the 310R has a bigger engine and can test higher speeds up to 272 miles per hour.
For example, a POH for the Piper Warrior III has a Vy of 79 knots and a Vx of 63 knots. Add the difference of 16 knots to Vy, and you can estimate cruise climb speed to be around 95 knots. Depending on weight and performance, 95 knots might be a little on the high side, but it's a good ballpark to start with. It also gives you a speed you can start experimenting with in the climb.
A new cowling was used, introducing shock-mounts that transmitted lower noise levels to the cockpit and reduced cowl cracking. The electric stall warning horn was replaced by a pneumatic one. Cessna 182 Skylane – The 182’s Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 engine, boasting 230 horsepower, provides a noticeable boost in performance, translating to faster climbing rates and the ability to cruise at higher altitudes.
Cessna has historically used model years similar to U.S. auto manufacturers, with sales of new models typically starting a few months prior to the actual calendar year.
If you compare the airspeeds in the chart in Figure 4 to those in Figure 1, you will see the airspeeds are 8 knots or so higher at 8,000 ft at high power settings. The "I" model was introduced with a Lycoming O-320-E2D engine of 150 hp (112 kW), an increase of 5 hp (3.7 kW) over the Continental powerplant. The increased power resulted in an increase in optimal cruise from 130 mph (209 km/h) true airspeed (TAS) to 131 mph (211 km/h) TAS. There was no change in the sea level rate of climb at 645 ft (197 m) per minute. This speed is ideal for general aviation activities, from training flights to leisurely cross-country journeys.
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