Cessna 120 vs Cessna 170
Side-by-side specs, range, and real operating costs for up to 5 aircraft.
Mission Performance
Tap to isolateValues normalised across compared aircraft. Fuel Economy is inverted (lower burn = higher score). See table below for raw figures.
Mission Performance Details
| Metric | Cessna 120 Cessna | Cessna 170 Cessna |
|---|---|---|
| Stall Speed | 40 kts | 50 kts |
| Approach Speed | 61 kts | 59 kts |
| Cruise Speed | 94 kts | 104 kts |
| Range | 395 nm | 410 nm |
| Service Ceiling | 15,500 ft | 15,500 ft |
| Rate of Climb | 640 fpm | 690 fpm |
| Fuel Burn | — | 8.0 gph |
Flight Profile
Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.
Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.
Fuel Burn
Based on published cruise fuel flow
| Metric | Cessna 120 Cessna | Cessna 170 Cessna |
|---|---|---|
| Burn Rate |
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| Trip Fuel |
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| Trip Cost |
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| Cost / hr |
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: trip distance exceeds published range.
Trip time estimated from published cruise speed and distance. Fuel burn is a published cruise figure; actual consumption varies with altitude, loading, and conditions.
Runway Performance
Density altitude adjusted estimates
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle
Landing ground roll
FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.
Estimated Operating Costs
| Metric | Cessna 120 Cessna | Cessna 170 Cessna |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Cost per hour | —/hr | $52/hr |
| Direct Operating Cost per hour | —/hr | $115/hr |
| Annual Fixed Costs | ||
| Insurance | —/yr | $1,800/yr |
| Hangar | —/yr | $4,050/yr |
| Annual Inspection | —/yr | $2,500/yr |
| Total Fixed | —/yr | $8,350/yr |
Estimates only. Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions.
Capability, Limits & Dimensions
| Metric | Cessna 120 Cessna | Cessna 170 Cessna |
|---|---|---|
| Useful Load | 665 lbs | 980 lbs |
| MTOW | 1,450 lbs | 2,200 lbs |
| Seating | 2 | 4 |
| Fuel Capacity | 25 gal | 42 gal |
| Engines | 1× Piston | 1× Piston |
| Landing Gear | Conventional | Conventional |
| Pressurized | No | No |
| Dimensions | ||
| Wingspan | 33.3 ft | 36.0 ft |
| Length | 21.5 ft | 25.0 ft |
| Tail Height | 6.3 ft | 6.6 ft |
Payload-Range Map
Origin: · click map to move