Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Cessna · C172
The most produced aircraft in history with over 44,000 built. Nearly every pilot in the world trained on one.
A small single-engine piston. Tops out at FL150, staying below standard jet routes. Cruises at about 122 kts, much slower than surrounding jet traffic. Climbs at only 700 fpm, so plan for gradual altitude changes.
1x PistonSmallRECAT FFL150 ceilingILS capable
Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1 x Piston |
| Weight class | Small (S) |
| RECAT-EU category | F (Light) |
| Service ceiling | 15,000 ft (FL150) |
| Max climb rate | 700 fpm |
| Max descent rate | 1,000 fpm |
Speed envelope
Speeds are approximate true airspeed (TAS). At cruise altitude, the Mach number is the governing limit where shown.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum speed | 50 kts |
| Landing speed | 65 kts |
| Cruise speed | ~122 kts TAS |
| Maximum speed | ~145 kts TAS |
Runway requirements
Field lengths used in the simulation for takeoff/landing calculations.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Takeoff field length | 3,123 ft / 0.51 nm / 952 m |
| Landing field length | 2,400 ft / 0.40 nm / 732 m |
Equipment
| Capability | Status |
|---|---|
| ILS approaches | Yes |
| Fix navigation | No |
| SRS category | 1 |
| LAHSO category | 1 |
Where you'll see it
Light aircraft like the Cessna 172 Skyhawk appear across all airspaces as general aviation traffic, typically operating VFR at lower altitudes.