The 5 Different Cessna 172 Variants

Summary

One of the most successful single-engine aircraft is the Cessna 172, which has been in production since the 1950s.
There have been quite a few different variants of the aircraft, with Cessna continuously updating the 172.
Some noteworthy variants include the JT-A, a diesel-powered aircraft, as well as the Cutlass, which had a retractable landing gear.

Few could argue against the statement that Cessna has created one of, if not the, most successful piston-powered aircraft lineups in the history of aviation, which includes the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The small aircraft has become the staple among flight schools globally, with Cessna and its parent company, Textron, continuously upgrading the 172. Describing the Skyhawk, the aircraft maker said,

“A rugged yet sophisticated flight trainer, the Cessna Skyhawk piston still holds the world record for the longest continuous flight, and it’s most likely the aircraft you first flew. This absolutely forgiving flying icon has been updated with new features and wireless connectivity to stay the course and become even more beloved.”

5 Cessna 170

Predecessor of the Cessna 172

While the Cessna 170 is technically not a variant of the Cessna 172, it was the aircraft that started it all, with Cessna developing the latter using the former. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Cessna developed the 170 as a bigger version of the Cessna 120/140, with the first 170s being equipped with fabric-covered and constant-chord wings with rounded tips as well as V-type wing struts.

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

AOPA noted that Cessna introduced two additional variants of the 170, namely the 170A and 170B, with the latter being more popular globally. What if one wanted to acquire a Cessna 170 today? Well, the association said that while it might look like a good buy, it warned about potentially high costs associated with airworthiness directives (AD), as well as bringing it up back to an airworthy level.

“The 170 has no treacherous characteristics that are revealed at the critical moment in a landing approach or takeoff roll. It simply has a tailwheel, and tailwheel aircraft require more precise control on the ground than do aircraft with nose wheels.”

The Cessna Skyhawk: A Complete History

The Cessna Skyhawk is popular among flight training institutions.

4 Cessna 172 Cutlass

Cessa 172 with a retractable landing gear

One might associate the Cessna 172 fuselage with a landing gear that is always present in the air. However, Cessna had developed the 172 Cutlass, a variant of the Skyhawk, in the 1980s. According to AVweb, the company delivered only about 1,100 examples of the variant during its five-year production run due to its niche market and a downturn in general aviation. Still, according to Kevin Garrison, a now-retired pilot, while he has flown quite a few different aircraft during a career spanning four decades, he assured the Cessna Flyer Association (CFA) that the Cutlass “was no pig.”

Photo: Real_life_photo | Shutterstock

“Some people have said of the Cessna 172RG that putting a constant speed prop and retractable gear on a Skyhawk is like sending your pet pig to an expensive spa for a liposuction and tooth whitening.”

A closeup of the landing gear of an Emirates Airbus A380.

Landing Gear: 5 Things You Might Not Know

Did you know that the first retractable landing gear was developed in 1911?

3 Cessna T-41 Mescalero

Military trainer used by the United States Air Force (USAF) and US Army (USA)

There was also a Cessna 172 that was used as a trainer by the United States Air Force (USAF) and US Army (USA), designated as the Cessna T-41 Mescalero. However, the USAF did not initially issue a tender for a trainer aircraft. Instead, it purchased its 172s “off-the-shelf,” according to the National Museum of the USAF. That was done for preliminary flight screening of USAF pilot candidates.

A Cessna T-41 Mescalero on an airport apron.

Photo: National Museum of the USAF

Subsequently, the service branch ordered 170 T-41A aircraft in 1964, adding an additional 34 three years later. While most entered service at various civilian contracted flight schools, they were located near Air Force Bases, where USAF pilots were training.

A USAF Boeing T-7A Red Hawk flying in the sky.

Boeing’s T-7 Red Hawk: An Advanced Military Jet Trainer

Boeing aims to sell over 2,700 Red Hawks globally.

2 Cessna 172 JT-A

Cessna 172 turbodiesel variant

On June 6th, 2017, Textron, the parent company of Cessna, announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the Cessna Turbo Skyhawk JT-A, equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. As a result, customers were now able to take deliveries of the aircraft from the US-based manufacturer.

However, an interesting aspect of the JT-A is the fact that its engine, the Continental CD-155, is diesel-powered. The direct fuel injection and dual channel FDEC are driven by a single power lever, with the engine burning “globally available Jet-A fuel and improves the standard Skyhawk’s performance.” According to Cessna, the JT-A is a factory option with an integrated engine, propeller, and cockpit upgrade package.

A Cessna 172 Skyhawk flying over a field filled with windmills.

Photo: Textron Aviation

Meanwhile, Doug May, the then-Vice President of Piston Aircraft at Textron Aviation, said at the time that the Skyhawk platform is the most successful single-engine aircraft of all time, and the company was excited to improve its performance with the JT-A upgrade.

“The Turbo Skyhawk JT-A allows operators to meet changing environmental regulations around the world, providing solutions to increase the global reach of this already proven platform.”

What Are The Differences Between The Cessna 172 And 182?

The Cessna 182 is a bigger plane with superior performance capabilities.

1 Cessna 172S

Current Cessna 172 Skyhawk in production

The Cessna 172S, simply marketed as the Cessna Skyhawk, is the current production model of the 172. The plane maker advertised the aircraft as the ultimate training aircraft, once again emphasizing that it has been the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built.

“With simplistic flight characteristics, great visibility and a sophisticated glass cockpit outfitted with Garmin G1000 avionics, the Cessna Skyhawk piston boasts a slow landing speed and a lenient stall. These characteristics make it a flight training favorite ideally suited for student pilots and it’s perfectly designed to help you soar.”

A Cessna 172S Skyhawk flying in the sky.

Photo: Textron Aviation

In July 2023, Textron Aviation introduced new interior design options for its turboprop aircraft, including the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The interiors, which have been available since 2024, include modern and comfortable seating, updated instrument panels, and new exterior paint styles.