Which 172 Is Right For You?

It's one of the most popular and respected general-aviation aircraft ever built, and 2006 marks its 50th Anniversary -- so now seems to be the perfect time for the Cessna Pilots Association to add the Cessna 172 to its popular series of model-specific Buyer's Guides.

There are A LOT of Skyhawks out there -- and it can be difficult for even seasoned Skyhawk jockeys to determine all the differences between the different models and model years. All years from 1956 through 2006 are covered in the guide, as well as all model changes year by year for your comparison.

For example... what's the difference between a 1984 Cessna 172P and a 1985 172P? What kind of engine set the Hawk XP apart from other Skyhawks? And just what the heck is a Cutlass? The Buyers Guide can tell you. Photos of each model year are also included, and an entire chapter is devoted to the pros and cons of buying an older model airplane.

Other sections of the Buyer's Guide cover determining operating costs, available modifications, FAA paperwork, a proper check out, pricing, insurance, landmark models, and engines. All Airworthiness Directives are listed both alphabetically and chronologically.

"The pre-purchase inspection checklist alone is worth the price of the book," Cessna Pilot Association President John Frank told Aero-News, adding the impetus for the 172 Buyers Guide -- just as with the C182 and C210 Buyers Guides before it -- is a comment he's heard literally hundreds of times: "Boy, I wish I had talked to you before I bought my airplane!"

With a forward by AOPA President Phil Boyer, the 108-page Cessna 172 Buyer's Guide is an indispensable resource for potential 172 buyers -- as well as ramp jockeys of all ages, Skyhawk pilots or not... even those who may have already known the Cutlass is Cessna's designation for the 172RG (retractable gear) variant of the venerable bird. 

FMI: www.cessna.org