Cessna 177 Cardinal

Piston • single engine • High Wing • Fixed gear

Range Visualization

Origin: · click map to move · nm at current load

Payload vs. Range

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Default: 190 lbs (FAA standard)

Default: 30 lbs

Passengers
lbs @ lbs / pax
0 lbs
Fuel on board
gal
+ Weight
Range
Available Range / nm
Mission capable — Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.
Fuel tradeoff required — You'll need to leave gallons of fuel behind ( gal usable for nm range).
Over max gross weight — Reduce payload by lbs to safely operate this aircraft.

Mission Profile

124
KTAS
Cruise Speed
4
Occupants
604
nm
Max Range
715
lbs
Wet Payload

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Cessna 177 Cardinal

Cessna 177 Cardinal

The Cessna 177 Cardinal was originally designed to be the high-tech successor to the legendary Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Its most striking feature is the cantilever high wing—meaning it has no external struts—which, combined with a steeply raked windshield, provides superior visibility for a high-wing aircraft. While the 1968 debut model was considered underpowered at 150 hp, the later 177B models (standardized here) equipped with the 180 hp Lycoming O-360 became highly regarded for their balance of aesthetics, cabin comfort, and stable handling.

Key Features for GA Buyers

  • Visibility: Without wing struts and with the pilot sitting forward of the wing’s leading edge, the Cardinal offers a panoramic view rarely found in high-wing Cessnas.
  • Ease of Entry: The massive doors open a full 90 degrees, and the low cabin floor (no strut to step over) makes it perhaps the easiest 4-place aircraft to board.
  • Modern Aesthetics: Its sleek, ‘racy’ profile remains contemporary even decades after production ended.
  • Cabin Comfort: The cabin is wider than a Skyhawk and features a flat floor, offering a more ‘automotive’ and spacious feel for passengers.

Trade-offs

  • Pitch Sensitivity: The all-moving stabilator is more sensitive than a traditional elevator, which can lead to ‘pilot-induced oscillations’ (PIO) during landing for those not properly trained.
  • Payload vs. Range: While it has 50-gallon (or optional 61-gallon) tanks, filling them to the brim significantly eats into the useful load, often making it a 2- or 3-person cross-country machine.
  • Maintenance: Being a ‘strutless’ design, the wing carry-through structure requires specific inspections (Cessna SID) to check for corrosion.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions

Wingspan
35.5 ft
Length
27.67 ft
Height
8.58 ft

Weights

Max Takeoff Weight
2,500 lbs
Max Landing Weight
2,500 lbs
Useful Load
1,015 lbs
Fuel Capacity
50 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed
124 KTAS
Range
604 NM
Service Ceiling
14,600 ft
Rate of Climb
840 fpm

Engines

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