Salute to the Cessna 172! commentary and photos Esteban Erik Stipnieks all rights reserved if you are in the photos feel free to have a personal copy. Promotional use of photos by Flight School must include photo credit Esteban Erik Stipnieks once I get that byline I am satisfied.
Ordinary yet extraordinary that is how AOPA pilot described the Cessna 172. The design is basic fixed pitch prop engine high wing strut braced. The form has remained basic since the late 1960s till today. There have been souped versions some with retractable gear and a larger engine yet he Skyhawk's form has remained available 4 seats high wing its shape identifiable. Hot, sexy, high performance, sporty, responsive are not terms to describe it.
Wright Flyers San Antonio (210)820-3800 inbound 03 SAT
N987BC Owned by Wright Flyers San Antonio Texas (210) 820-3800 makes its way into a cutting head wind on final 03 SAT January 4, 2009 at 2:34 pm.
Short final 30L Wright Flyers 11/19/2009
(Date Taken (3/2/09) 4:29 ,4:30 two Wright flyer birds off to the training area I presume on a beautiful March day.
Many is the aviator whose solos occurred in a Cessna 172. Yeah in some files by the FAA you can probably dig up how many checkrides for private pilot licenses occurred in the trusty sky hawk. For the rancher, small business man and even aviation writer Richard Collins referred to Cessna 172 as faithful reliable friend. Yeah I have an hour of flight time in one I preferred the cheaper date (Cessna 150). I actually had to use the trim in it far more often. Its wing not the marvel of modern wind tunnel technology its design almost static from when Kris Kristofferson was flying for Petroleum Helicopters Incorporated. Lets face the Skyhawk is to General Aviation what the DC-3 was to commercial aviation the triumph of a design that could meet a variety of needs. The Skyhawk excels at none of those roles but fails at none either. Collins in his flying article was right, AOPA pilot was right. Like a well trained Labrador retriever the Skyhawk is ordinary and is extraordinary in its ordinary nature.