Four-seat training and personal touring aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1973–1976 · See its reach on the 3D globe
_(4-13-2024).jpg)
A Cessna 172M Skyhawk costs approximately $139k (€129k) to $166k (€154k) to buy at 1976 market values, and about $74k (€69k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $929 (€860) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 122 kt (140 mph) and has a published range of 515 nm (954 km), needing about 1,529 ft (466 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The 172M is a mid-1970s Skyhawk with the 150 hp O-320: a touch less power than the later N and S, but the same legendary supportability and forgiving nature that make any 172 a low-risk first aircraft. It is honest, simple and cheap to keep flying. Its value spread is all about the individual airframe, because training hours, engine or STC conversions and avionics upgrades separate otherwise identical years. A tidy M with a good engine and useful panel is excellent value; buy the aeroplane's history, not the badge on the tail.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,043 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 414 kg |
| Usable fuel | 144 L |
| Landing ground roll | 158 m |
| Service ceiling | 13,100 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 645 ft/min |
| Stall speed | 44 KCAS |
| Baggage weight | 54 kg |
| Engine | Avco Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 hp at 2,700 rpm |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 712 lb (323 kg) |
| Published planning range | 515 nm (954 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 345 nm (639 km) |
| Cruise speed | 122 kt (140 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,529 ft (466 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $15k (€14k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $146 (€135) |
Extremely supportable and easy to operate, but training hours, engine conversions and avionics create large price differences.
Indicative cash costs at 1976 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $68k (€63k) | $1,712 (€1,585) | $494k (€457k) |
| 80 h / year | $74k (€69k) | $929 (€860) | $523k (€484k) |
| 120 h / year | $80k (€74k) | $668 (€618) | $552k (€511k) |
| 180 h / year | $89k (€82k) | $494 (€457) | $596k (€552k) |
Every figure above is built from a $15k (€14k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $146 (€135) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $33k (€30k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Cessna 172M Skyhawk cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 1976 market price for a Cessna 172M Skyhawk is $139k (€129k) to $166k (€154k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk works out at roughly $74k (€69k) annually, which is about $929 (€860) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $146 (€135).
Published range is 515 nm (954 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 345 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,529 ft (466 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.