Four-seat retractable-gear personal tourer · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1971–1978 · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG costs approximately $149k (€138k) to $178k (€165k) to buy at 1975 market values, and about $83k (€77k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $1,041 (€964) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 148 kt (170 mph) and has a published range of 720 nm (1,333 km), needing about 1,772 ft (540 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Cardinal was Cessna's attempt to replace the 172 and the only single they built with no wing strut and doors set far enough forward to see out of properly. It failed commercially, became a cult aeroplane, and the RG is the quick one. Nothing in the class offers this visibility. The gear is where to be careful: a hydraulic system unique to the type, out of production for nearly fifty years, and not something every shop has opened. Parts come from specialists. Buy it for the view and the lines, and only with a mechanic who has worked on one before.
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 | 1,270 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 227 L |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 or IO-360-A1B6D, 200 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 778 lb (353 kg) |
| Published planning range | 720 nm (1,333 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 482 nm (893 km) |
| Cruise speed | 148 kt (170 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,772 ft (540 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $19k (€18k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $189 (€175) |
Excellent visibility and useful cruise speed, but the hydraulic gear and small fleet increase maintenance diligence.
Indicative cash costs at 1975 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 | $76k (€70k) | $1,893 (€1,753) | $541k (€501k) |
| 80 h / year | $83k (€77k) | $1,041 (€964) | $578k (€536k) |
| 120 h / year | $91k (€84k) | $757 (€701) | $616k (€571k) |
| 180 h / year | $102k (€95k) | $568 (€526) | $673k (€623k) |
Every figure above is built from a $19k (€18k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $189 (€175) 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 $41k (€38k) 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 177RG Cardinal RG 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.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
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 1975 market price for a Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG is $149k (€138k) to $178k (€165k). 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 177RG Cardinal RG works out at roughly $83k (€77k) annually, which is about $1,041 (€964) 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 $189 (€175).
Published range is 720 nm (1,333 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 482 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG requires complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,772 ft (540 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.