Questions tagged [cessna-172]
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat light aircraft, very commonly used in flight training
132
questions
55
votes
2
answers
22k
views
Is it possible to install a bike rack on a Cessna 172?
I stumbled upon a nice photo manipulation on aviationhumor.net.
Source
My question is short and concise:
Is it practically possible to do that? Is it okay in terms of aerodynamics, weight, CG?
...
35
votes
8
answers
19k
views
What happens if you exceed the maximum speed on a C172?
The airspeed indicator has a red marking that means: "never exceed this speed" ($V_{NE}$, around 160 KIAS). Why can't you exceed that speed?
25
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Why does the lack of a magneto affect engine RPM?
So I don't have my pilots licence, but I was part of the Australian Air Force Cadets for nearly 8 years (wonderful organisation). During this time I went on a number of flights in Cessna 172's and ...
24
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What prevents a small plane like a Cessna or Piper from flying as high as a jet?
Obviously taking oxygen in consideration. What prevents a small plane from being able to fly at a much higher altitude? I know some business jets can fly up to 40,000 ft. Does it have to do with the ...
21
votes
7
answers
16k
views
How much physical strength is required to control a Cessna 172?
I have heard a number of folks tell me that one needs a certain amount of physical strength to be able to control the Cessna 172. Is that true? I'm flying sims now, just wanted to know.
21
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What are these holes in my Cessna 172, just in front of the elevator?
Been wondering about these for a while. Student pilot working on my PPL. When preflighting my Cessna 172 the other day, I noticed these holes just in front of the elevator. What are they for? The ...
21
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Why did Cessna get rid of manual flaps in their 172?
At the club I fly at, there is an older Cessna 172 that has a manual "Johnson Bar" that is used to put the flaps down.
In the newer 152, and I believe the rest of the planes (I have yet to fly them), ...
20
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Why do electronics have to be off before engine startup/shut down on a Cessna 172?
Can someone explain in simple words why we make sure electronics are off before we start up/ shut down our Cessna172 engine?
19
votes
4
answers
71k
views
What is a Cessna 172's maximum altitude?
What is the maximum altitude at which a Cessna 172 can fly?
18
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Should I have one hand on the throttle during engine ignition?
I'm training in a Cessna 172 for my private pilot license (PPL).
My flight instructor recommended that I keep my checklist in one hand (so that I can keep looking outside with my peripheral vision) ...
18
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Why not always take off with 10 degree flaps in a Cessna 172?
10 degree flaps increase our lift, reduce stall speed, reduce ground roll.
Seems like all advantages with no disadvantages.
So why does the Cessna 172 POH say normal take off is 0-10 degree flaps?
Why ...
18
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Is there anything extra required to spin a Cessna 172 in the Utility category?
I'm trying to find a suitable aircraft to get my spin endorsement for my CFI rating but am running into trouble with most aerobatic aircraft due to my height (too tall).
My last thought is that I ...
17
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What causes a Cessna 172 and its gear to shake violently after landing and braking?
I am sure this was due to my own ignorance on proper technique, but immediately after landing in a Cessna 172, I applied brakes and some moderate aerodynamic braking and experienced an awful and ...
17
votes
4
answers
19k
views
What could cause uneven fuel levels in a Cessna 172?
I went for a 1.5 hour flight in a 1977 Cessna 172N, with several takeoffs and landings. I was alone. When I left, I had 18 gallons in each tank. When I arrived back, I had 15 gallons in the left tank, ...
16
votes
5
answers
12k
views
What instructions should I give to an untrained passenger for Hand propping Cessna 172N as a pilot?
Does anybody know what is the most effective way of hand propping a Cessna 172N, with a passenger who is not mechanically inclined.
So you need to give them the most easy to follow and simple ...
16
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Could this "Wingless Dodo" fly in real life?
There is a wingless Cessna in GTA 3 that is so impossible to fly that the game counts how many seconds you manage to fly it.
Would that plane fly at least 1 second in real life?
The plane looks like ...
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the appropriate fuel tank selection to land a 172?
On a recent checkout on a C172 I was told to select "fullest tank" as opposed to "both" that I have been doing for years. Given the aircraft is high wing (gravity feed) with no auxiliary fuel pump ...
16
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Which way should I rotate the propeller of a C172?
During pre-flight which direction should I be rotating the propeller of a Cessna 172 if I need to reach the alternator belt? I thought I was told "In the direction it rotates during flight"; however ...
14
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Why does the Cessna 172S Skyhawk use only two blade fixed pitched prop?
Surely it would get more thrust from a three blade variable pitch propeller. From what I've read it's all about the area swept and also should be far enough apart to not cause too much interference. ...
14
votes
12
answers
48k
views
What is the best method to time your round out or flare in Cessna 172?
I am a student pilot and I usually round out too high and I am not sure why. Can somebody guide me how to make decision whether I am too high or not.
12
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Does this fuel leak from the carburetor of a Cessna 172E need immediate maintenance?
Consider:
I'm concerned with a fuel leak I've developed on my Cessna 172E in the past three weeks and appears to be coming from the carburetor. There is even some fuel in the air breather near the ...
12
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why does the Cessna 152/172 nose wheel turn only when the aircraft is moving?
According to the POH, ground control is achieved by a spring loaded steering bungee.
But how does it work and why the nose wheel does not move when the aircraft is stationary?
12
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Why fuel left/right when C172 is secured?
The C172 POH checklists say to set the fuel selector to "right" or "left" when securing the plane but "both" while operating the plane.
What is the point of changing the fuel selector when the engine ...
12
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Cessna 172/182: Should I set the tank selector to the R.H. tank after parking the airplane?
The single-engine Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft models have a dual gravity-fed fuel system, where you can draw from both the LH and RH tank simultaneously in flight.
I've heard it said that when you ...
12
votes
2
answers
7k
views
In a Cessna 172 flying VFR on long final, when do I extend flaps to 10, 20, and 30 degrees?
At the pilot-controlled airfield I use most frequently, we fly a standard rectangular pattern.
The normal-landing C172 flap sequence goes
Downwind: 10 degrees past the “abeam point” and airspeed in ...
12
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What lights does the Cessna 172 light rheostat control?
I am part of a team developing a Cessna 172 P model for FlightGear, an open source free flight simulator. We are now programming how the panel and radio lightning rheostat should work, but we found a ...
12
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What is this stem on the underside of a Cessna 172R (1997)?
There is a stem that is located on the underside of the airplane between the drain valves for the fuel strainer and reservoir tank. It looks like a small stem that is protruding.
I have noticed it ...
11
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How do I keep a C172 straight on the centerline during landing/rollout?
During rollout upon touching down, I'd often find myself veering off the runway centreline to the left. Every time I input rudder, I have this feeling that I am getting pulled out of the turn (while ...
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why is the initial short-field climb below Vₓ in a Cessna 172?
Short-field takeoff procedure for a Cessna 172R is
Wing Flaps – 10°.
Brakes – APPLY.
Throttle – FULL OPEN.
Mixture – RICH …
Brakes – RELEASE.
Elevator Control – SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW.
...
11
votes
3
answers
26k
views
How to Recover from a Spin in Cessna 172?
How to recover from a spin in a Cessna 172 ? What are the different maneuvers that a pilot would have to use to to do so?
11
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How can I know if a landing exceeds the hard landing threshold for a Cessna 172S?
How does a pilot determine the difference between a firm landing, and one that needs to be written up for a hard landing inspection in a Cessna 172S?
11
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Why should one not slip a Cessna 172 with flaps extended?
The POH strongly recommends not slipping the AC with full flaps...why?
It seems natural in a crosswind approach to
allow the horizontal lift component to cancel the airmass movement across the ...
11
votes
3
answers
46k
views
What are the landing stall speeds of a Cessna 172?
I understood from Why is stall speed listed in a POH? that the Cessna Skyhawk POH lists stall speeds for specific conditions due to a lack of AoA indicator. However, what's unclear to me is what the ...
10
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Why can we not use full throttle in a C172 when cruising at lower altitudes?
My flight training manual (FTM) says that at low altitudes we throttle back our trainers in order to not exceed recommended power settings. We use the Lycoming O-320 engine.
But why is that?
Is the ...
10
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Cessna 172: at which RPM should the oil pressure reach the green arc?
I am part of a team developing a Cessna 172 P model for FlightGear, an open source free flight simulator. We are now trying to improve the oil pressure and temperature simulation, and we have a ...
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What flaps position should be used for taking off from a wet runway?
If I have to take off in a C152 or C172 from a runway that's 800-900 meters (2600-3000ft) long and wet but not contaminated, what flap setting should I use to get the shortest ground roll?
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why are some fuel-injected engines started with the mixture at idle cut-off?
The POH for a C172N with a carbureted Lycoming O-320 says:
STARTING ENGINE
Mixture -- RICH
Carburetor Heat -- COLD
Master Switch -- ON
Prime -- AS REQUIRED
Throttle -- OPEN 1/8 INCH
...
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What are possible causes for the flaps not deploying on a Cessna 172?
I would like to seek some expert opinion on why my flaps failed to deploy when I took it to Flaps 20.
I was turning from Downwind to Base when I took flaps 20 and noticed that my speed was creeping ...
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How much rudder input does a Cessna 172 require during the take off roll?
I am part of an open-source project developing a simulation of a Cessna 172P. We are tweaking our flight dynamic model at the moment and we are looking for feedback from people with real life ...
8
votes
2
answers
43k
views
How to do Weight & Balance for Cessna 172?
What is the best method to do Weight & Balance for a Cessna 172? (If it's possible with a small tutorial!)
Thanks
8
votes
4
answers
42k
views
In which phases of flight should the carb heat be turned on?
I have about 200 flight hours in a fuel-injected C172. I have just jointly bought a C152 with a carburetor and I am getting used to using the carb heat. I am scared whenever I hear stories about ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why does a fuel-injected engine have a mixture control?
For example, in a C172S fuel injected type, what does the mixture control lever control exactly in the fuel system?
They have a fuel air control unit which regulates fuel flow based on air passing ...
7
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Why does aileron response diminish as speed becomes slower, from slow-flight up to the stall? (In a light trainer)
Can someone phrase the explanation to this in simple words as you would explain to a student?
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Turbulence from hot weather?
My introduction flight was canceled because of "the turbulence due to heat". They called half an hour before the time of the flight (Cessna 172).
I'm okay to reschedule it but I'm a bit ...
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is an aircraft's maximum landing weight really weight, or is it mass?
I'm calculating the lift of a Cessna 172 and I don't understand the numbers given for weight. The maximum landing weight is 2550 pounds which is nearly 1134kg. But does that mean 1134 Newtons (weight) ...
7
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Should I land a Cessna 172 with or without a little power?
Cessna 172 landings with full flaps. I have been taught to land with and without power. Give me feedback please. Which way should I continue my training?
7
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why does a Cessna 172 have dihedral wings if it has high wings?
"Dihedral goes hand in hand with low wing aircraft, and anhedral goes with high wing". This is what I assumed till now.
But when I see a Cessna 172, the wings are a little dihedral. So why ...
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Should you immediately attain max glide speed after engine failure?
For the Cessna 172 Skyhawk maximum glide is attained at a speed of 65 KIAS. If you're flying well above this speed, let's say 90 KIAS, and suffer an engine failure, what would be the best practice: ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the safe separation for landing a Cessna-172 behind a commercial airline jet?
When is it safe to land a Cessna-172 after a commercial airline jet has landed?
7
votes
2
answers
476
views
Testing magnetos during engine failure
I'm a student pilot (PPL) and the C172 I fly has the following item in the emergency checklist for in-flight engine failures:
MAGNETOS...............TEST
My ...