The Cessna 172 In Pro Flight Simulator

Being the most produced airplane in history its no wonder the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is amongst the most popular aircraft flown today. The Cessna 172 first saw flight back nin 1955 and is still being produced to this day so it has certainly stood the test o time. With more than 50,000 produced and still counting the plane has seen its fair share of competition, but the majority just come and go and 172 flies on.

Early model 172's looked a lot like the Cessna 170 with exeption that the 172 had a straight tail, today the 172 has a more swept back tail section. Three engines that are easily installed include 160hp, 180hp and a 210 hp engine. With seating for four a pilot can take a few friends up for a casual tour of skies without being all cramped up and packed in.

Way back in 1958 Dec. 4 a couple of fine gents being John Cook and Robert Timm took the Cessna 172 on a nearly 65 day cancer fund raising adventure. On the run fuel was delivered while in flight from truck on the ground by pulling a hose up and pumping on the fuel into a specially built fuel tank.They say that it took two people just to drive the truck one steering and one working the gas pedal , I have to imagine this would be quit comical to watch. Supplies and water water where delivered in simiualr fashion, from a ground vehical in the desert pulled up with a bucket and rope. They completed their mission and landed back where they started at McCarran airfield in Las Vegas NV in 1959 Febuary 4th.

They decided to end the flight because of wear on the engine after being run continuously for over 1,500 hours, the plane could barely climb back up after refueling by now due to pushing the engine well over it's limitation's. This fine aircraft is still in existance today and proudly on display at the McCarran Airport.

Their have been around 25 or so variants of the 172 over all these years. Some are being used in the Military as training planes and are also used by police and other government agencies also. The lead singer of the Cricketts David Box was killed in 172 crash, Rocky Marciano was also killed in a 172 and in 2002 a high school student stole a Cessna 172 and crashed it into bank killing himself.

The plane is roughly 27 feet long, 8 feet high with a wing span of just over 36 feet. Emty the lightweight aircraft comes in at 1,690 lds, with a gross weight of about 2,500. With it's two blade propeller and Lycoming engine the plane cruises along at about 140 mph and climbs at 720 feet per minute up to a 13,500 service ceiling, max speed is 188 mph.


The Cessna 172 is a joy to fly and actually one of the safest also. The 172 is also a very easy plane to fly with its simple desighn, making it one the best training planes available. If you can't afford to buy your own or you simply would rather not, then I suggest you take a look at Pro Flight Simulator, it is a very fine peice of software that installs on most any home computer system, there are other flight simulators out there besides Proflight but be aware. Most are not that realistic and have few options and very limited aircraft availibility, Proflightsimulator is the best flight Sim on the market and it has over 140 aircraft that you can fly anytime you like, so get up there and have some fun.