Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 177 Cardinal
Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.
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Compare up to 5 aircraft side-by-side
Dimensions & configuration
Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.
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.
Mission Performance
Stall, approach, cruise, range, ceiling and climb: best values are at the top.
| Specification | Cessna 172 Skyhawk | Cessna 177 Cardinal |
|---|---|---|
| Stall speed | 53 kt | 55 kt |
| Approach speed | 61 kt | 61 kt |
| Cruise speed | 124 kt | 124 kt |
| Range | 640 nm | 604 nm |
| Service ceiling | 14000 ft | 14600 ft |
| Rate of climb | 730 fpm | 840 fpm |
| Fuel burn | 9.0 gph | 8.6 gph |
Each axis is scaled independently across the compared aircraft and printed in its own units; every vertex sits at the published figure. Higher is better on all axes: Stall, Approach and Fuel Burn are inverted (lower = higher). A missing figure breaks the line at that axis.
Fuel Burn & Range
Range, endurance, and what the fuel costs by the hour.
Bars show published still-air range. Endurance is usable fuel divided by the published cruise burn. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.
Runway Performance
Density altitude adjusted estimates
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
Cost per flight hour
Direct operating cost, split into where the money goes. Re-flows with your fuel and electricity prices above.
Fixed costs
Annual fixed costs (insurance, hangar, and inspection) paid whether you fly or not.
Re-prices insurance for your experience level.
Insurance may include Choose My Plane estimates.
Estimates only. Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.
Capability & limits
Each bar stacks your selected occupants against full fuel and the aircraft's useful-load limit (the black line). The open gap between them is spare payload. Add an occupant and the gap closes; once it's gone, fuel has to give.
+ lb / pax
Occupants at 190 + 30 lb each. Fuel at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas.
Payload-Range Map
Origin: · two fingers to move map
+ lb / pax