Cessna 177 Cardinal vs Cessna 177 Cardinal RG

Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.

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Dimensions & configuration

Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.

Cessna 177 Cardinal
36 ft × 28 ft ⭥ 9 ft
1× Piston Fixed Unpressurized
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG
36 ft × 27 ft ⭥ 9 ft
1× Piston Retractable Unpressurized

Flight Profile

Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.

Tap legend to isolate

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.

Mission performance specifications
Specification Cessna 177 CardinalCessna 177 Cardinal RG
Stall speed 55 kt57 kt
Approach speed 61 kt61 kt
Cruise speed 124 kt148 kt
Range 604 nm895 nm
Service ceiling 14600 ft17100 ft
Rate of climb 840 fpm925 fpm
Fuel burn 8.6 gph10.0 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.

Cessna 177 Cardinal Avgas
8.6 gph
Baseline
604 nm range 14.4 nm/gal 49 gal usable $56 fuel/hr 5h 41m endurance
Cessna 177 Cardinal: 8.6 gph at cruise, 604 nautical mile published range, 5 hour 41 minute endurance, 14.4 nautical miles per gallon.
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG Avgas
10.0 gph
Baseline
895 nm range 14.8 nm/gal 60 gal usable $65 fuel/hr 6h 00m endurance
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG: 10.0 gph at cruise, 895 nautical mile published range, 6 hour 0 minute endurance, 14.8 nautical miles per gallon.
Avgas range each cell = 1 hr of cruise · width scales with speed tank-dry · at this cruise burn

Bars show published still-air range: select a cell to view cruise-hours and fuel usage. Endurance is full tank at the displayed cruise burn rate; the extra is reserve and economy margin. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.

Runway Performance

Density altitude adjusted estimates

Outside Air Temp
0°F57°F115°F
Field Elevation
SL4,0008,000 ft

Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle

Landing over 50 ft obstacle

Density Altitude

Monte cristo

Base distance DA penalty
Scale: 6,000 ft

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

Hourly direct and annual fixed costs

Scale:
Cessna 177 Cardinal Avgas
$99 /hr
Baseline
Cessna 177 Cardinal: $99 per flight hour — fuel $56, maintenance and reserve $43.
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG Avgas
$133 /hr
Baseline
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG: $133 per flight hour — fuel $65, maintenance and reserve $68.
Cessna 177 Cardinal Piston
$8,939 /yr Baseline
Cessna 177 Cardinal: $8,939 per year — insurance withheld, hangar $6,689, annual inspection $2,250.
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG Piston
$11,400 /yr Baseline
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG: $11,400 per year — insurance $2,400, hangar $6,000, annual inspection $3,000.

Estimates only. Hourly direct operating cost, based on fuel price and reserves; Annual fixed costs (insurance, hangar, and inspection). Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.

Capability & limits

Payload vs useful load limit

+ cargo
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Cessna 177 Cardinal Piston
4 / 4 seats cargo 49 gal / 49 gal fuel 721 lbs wet payload 1,015 lbs useful 2,500 lbs MTOW
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG Piston
4 / 4 seats cargo 60 gal / 60 gal fuel 672 lbs wet payload 1,032 lbs useful 2,800 lbs MTOW

Shows selected occupants against full fuel, within the aircraft's useful-load limit. Fuel weight at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas; pax and luggage are 190 + 30 . Change payload weights in global settings.

Payload-Range Map

Origin: → · two fingers to move map

+ cargo
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