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April 10, 2006
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk Turns 50
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More than 1,000 172 Skyhawks have been produced since its introduction in 1956. |
The 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing aircraft, was designed for the growing class of business pilots in the 1950s. When it debuted on the market in 1957, it cost just $8,295.
A New Look for Small Planes
In 1960, the 172 was redesigned from the square tail body design to the swept tail still standard on most aircraft today. Other enhancements soon followed, including the removal of the center strip in the front window and adding the rear window that improved visibility, an enhancement dubbed “Omnivision.” The rudder pedals were now made out of magnesium and the elevator was extended by four inches on each side. A deluxe model, including improved main gear, raised engine installation, new cowl, new prop spinner, reclining pilot and copilot seats, and plastic elevator and stabilizer tips appeared in 1961. Pilots nicknamed the aircraft, “Skyhawk.”
Steady Demand
In 1963, Cessna produced its 50,000th airplane, a 172 Skyhawk. In 1986 however, the rising cost of product liability and skyrocketing insurance costs forced Cessna to halt production of all Cessna single engine piston aircraft in 1986. The 172 was one of the last airplanes off the single engine production line, 30 years after it had been introduced.
More than two hundred modifications had been made to the 172 Skyhawk by this time.
The General Aviation Revitalization Act was signed in 1994 and allowed Cessna to re-enter single engine piston production. Within days of the act being signed, Cessna announced a search for the town where it would build a facility to manufacture single engine pistons again. In December of 1994, Cessna announced the selection of Independence, KS, as the site for the assembly of its new generation model 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes, and 206 Stationairs. Cessna broke ground for the facility in May 1995.
The newest 172 Skyhawk revision received FAA certification in July 1996, and the first Independence-built airplane rolled off the assembly line in November of that year. By 1999, the 1,000th 172 Skyhawk was delivered.
The Next Generation of the 172 Skyhawk
In July 2004, Cessna announced an all-new, fully integrated glass cockpit, incorporating the Garmin G1000 avionics system for its Skyhawk product line. Skyhawk G1000 certification was received in March 2005. In August 2005, the 1,000th Cessna customer enrolled in the company’s Garmin G1000 factory-authorized training program after purchasing his 172 Skyhawk.
The ongoing success of the 172 Skyhawk has been a key part of Cessna’s overall success. To date, Cessna has delivered more airplanes than any other commercial manufacturer, and over half the general aviation aircraft flying today carry a Cessna logo.
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