Sturdy, Stalwart Plane Has Been Flown By A LOT Of Pilots

Say what you will about the somewhat dowdy Cessna 172 -- it's likely you'll do so with respect, even if at first your comments may not seem complimentary. After all, the 172 has never been the sexiest aircraft on any ramp... anywhere.

With its strut-mounted high-wing, pug nose, and compact dimensions, it takes a practiced eye to identify a brand-new leather-and-G1000-equipped SP from a well-kept shag, steam-gauge, and Royalite-bedecked model from 30 years ago. The new model will also go about as fast, with 120 knots indicated on a good day -- hardly Cirrus numbers.

And for a multitude of pilots, that's more than fine. Known for its docile flight characteristics, the Skyhawk (as the model became known by in the late 60s) has endeared itself to three generations of pilots over its 50 years of existence. Much has changed about the actual aircraft -- but the spirit remains the same, and the EAA will honor that spirit at AirVenture 2006 in Oshkosh by saluting the 50th anniversary of the general aviation mainstay.

Since its introduction in 1956, the Cessna 172 has become the most successful small airplane in history.  Countless pilots have learned the basics of flight in its cockpit and many of them continue to fly the familiar high-wing aircraft throughout North America and from locations around the world.

"The Cessna 172 may not be the fastest or flashiest airplane on the flight line, but perhaps more than any other airplane, it has allowed people to realize their dreams of flight," said Tom Poberezny EAA president and AirVenture chairman.  "The Cessna 172 brings thousands of aviation enthusiasts to Oshkosh each year to what's known as 'aviation's family reunion,' and this year we invite anyone who owns or has flown this workhorse aircraft to come to Oshkosh to celebrate its golden anniversary."

Among the invited aircraft for this commemoration is the very first Cessna 172, a 1956 model still flown regularly by EAA member Joe Nelsen of Grayson, TX. EAA is also working with Cessna Aircraft, the Cessna Pilots Association and other Cessna owner and pilot groups to recognize the aircraft and their owners during the event.

Other Cessna 172 activities during EAA AirVenture include:

• Cessna 172s arriving and parking together in AirVenture's "North 40" aircraft camping area;
• A display of notable Cessna 172s on AirVenture's showcase AeroShell Square, including the first and most recent models;
• A schedule of AirVenture forum speakers and topics specifically on the Cessna 172;
• A special exhibit of the artwork of Richard Van Eyck, Cessna's consulting design engineer from the 1950s through the 1980s, which encompasses original sketches and designs for paint schemes, interiors and other items for many Cessna aircraft, including those never produced;
• An evening event at the EAA AirVenture Museum celebrating the 172's 50th anniversary.

The Cessna 172 began as a tricycle-gear version of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170, which had a basic level of standard equipment. The new 172 model proved to be an instant success, with more than 1,400 built in 1956, the first full year of production.

Since the airplane's introduction, more than 42,500 Cessna 172s have been built, making it the most successful mass-produced aircraft in history. They have become the most recognized single-engine civilian aircraft in the world, used around the globe for flight training, business, recreation and humanitarian efforts.

The Cessna 172 has also flown more than 20 percent of the 1.2 million Young Eagles flown by EAA-member volunteer pilots since that program began in 1992.

"Although EAA members and AirVenture attendees fly or enjoy just about every aircraft known to man, it's not a stretch to say that the largest number of them either learned to fly or have flown a Cessna 172," Poberezny said. "It's an airplane that has allowed many people to get started on the path to their own dreams of flight and their individual aviation achievements."

FMI: www.airventure.org