Cessna
Starting with the Cessna, the most well-known workhorse of flying schools across the globe, its High wing is a common sight in many airfields and airports. The long history of Cessna has proven itself over the times as a reliable, responsive, and well received line of aircraft.
Cessna 152
The Cessna 52 is an American two-seat, fixed tricycle gear, general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training and personal use
First delivered in 977 as the 978 model year, the 52 was a modernization of the proven Cessna 50 design The 52 was intended to compete with the new Beechcraft Skipper and Piper Tomahawk, both of which were introduced the same year Additional design goals were to improve useful load through a gross weight increase to 670 lbs (757 kg), decrease internal and external noise levels and run better on the then newly introduced 100LL fuel
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 pilot
* Capacity: 1 passenger
* Length: 24 ft 1 in (7.3 m)
* Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.2 m)
* Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
* Wing area: 160 ft² (14.9 m²)
* Empty weight: 1,081 lb (490 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 1,670 lb (757 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-235-L2C flat-4 engine, 110 hp (82 kW) driving a 69 in (175 cm), two-blade, fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
* Maximum speed: 126 mph (110 knots, 204 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 123 mph (107 knots, 198 km/h)
* Stall speed: 49 mph (43 knots, 79 km/h) unpowered, flaps down
* Range: 477 mi (414 nm, 768 km)
* Extended range 795 mi (690 nm, 1,280 km) with long-range tanks
* Service ceiling: 14,700 ft (4,480 m)
* Takeoff roll: 725 ft (221 m)
* Rate of climb: 715 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
* Max wing loading: 10.44 lb/ft² (51 kg/m²)
* Minimum power/mass: .066 hp/lb (108 W/kg)
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft
Measured by its longevity and popularity, the Cessna 172 is the most successful mass produced light aircraft in history The first production models were delivered in 956 and they are still in production As of 2008, more than 43,000 had been built The Skyhawk's main competitors have been the Beechcraft Musketeer and Grumman AA-5 series (neither in production), the Piper Cherokee and, more recently, the Diamond DA40
The Cessna 72 started life as a tricycle landing gear variant of the taildragger Cessna 170, with a basic level of standard equipment The first flight of the prototype was in November 955 The 172 became an overnight sales success and over 400 were built in 956, its first full year of production
Early 172s were similar in appearance to the 170, with the same straight aft fuselage and tall gear legs, although the 172 had a straight vertical tail while the 170 had a rounded fin and rudder Later 172 versions incorporated revised landing gear and the sweptback tail which is still in use todayThe final aesthetic development in the mid-960s, was a lowered rear deck that allowed an aft window Cessna advertised this added rear visibility as "Omni-Vision" This airframe configuration has remained almost unchanged since then, except for updates in avionics and engines, including the Garmin G000 glass cockpit in 2005 Production had been halted in the mid-980s, but was resumed in 996 with the 60 hp (20 kW) Cessna 172R Skyhawk and was supplemented in 998 by the 80 hp (35 kW) Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
General characteristics
* Crew: 1
* Capacity: 3 passengers
* Length: 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m)
* Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.0 m)
* Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
* Wing area: 174 ft² (16.2 m²)
* Airfoil: NACA 2412 (modified)
* Empty weight: 1,620 lb (736 kg)
* Useful load: 830 lb (376 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 2,450 lb (1,113 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-360-L2A flat-4 engine, 160 hp (120 kW) at 2,400 rpm
* * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0319
* Drag area: 5.58 ft² (0.52 m²)
* Aspect ratio: 7.32
* Lift-to-drag ratio: 11.6
* Wing loading: 14.1 lb/ft² (68.8 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 15.3 lb/hp (9.25 kg/kW)
Performance
* Never exceed speed: 163 knots (187 mph, 302 km/h)
* Maximum speed: 123 knots (141 mph, 228 km/h) at sea level
* Cruise speed: 122 knots (140mph, 226 km/h)
* Range: 610 nm (790 mi, 1,272 km) at 55% power at 12,000 ft (3,040 m)
* Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,116 m)
* Rate of climb: 720 ft/min (3.7 m/s)
In the single engine category, the Piper is another name to reckon with. With almost all its aircraft displaying the low wing design, (with some exceptions like the Piper Cub), the Piper flyer has its sport aircraft appeal and soft landings with the addition of enhanced suspension systems over other aircraft in its class.
PA-28 Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi and personal use, built by Piper Aircraft.
All members of the PA-28 family are all-metal, unpressurized, four-seat, single-engine piston-powered airplanes with low-mounted wings and tricycle landing gear. All PA-28 aircraft have a single door on the co-pilot side, which is entered by stepping on the wing.
The first PA-28 received its type certificate from the FAA in 1960 and the series remains in production in 2009. Current models are the Arrow and Warrior III. The Archer was discontinued in 2009.
Competition for the PA-28 series include the Cessna 172, the Grumman American AA-5 series and the Beechcraft Musketeer.
Piper has created variations within the Cherokee family by installing engines ranging from 140 to 300 hp (105-220 kW), providing turbocharging, offering fixed or retractable landing gear, fixed-pitch or constant speed propellers, and stretching the fuselage to accommodate 6 people. The larger, six-seat variant of the PA-28 is generally the PA-32; earlier versions were known as the "Cherokee Six," and a PA-32 version is still in production today under the model name Saratoga.
General characteristics
* Crew: one pilot
* Capacity: three passengers
* Length: 23.3 feet (7.16 m)
* Wingspan: 30.0 feet (9.2 m)
* Height: 7.3 feet (2.25 m)
* Wing area: 160 sq ft (15.14 m²)
* Airfoil: NACA 652-415
* Empty weight: 1201 lb (544 kg)
* Loaded weight: 2150 lb (975 kg)
* Useful load: 949 lb (430 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 2150 lb (975 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-320-E2A Sensenich M74DM, 150 hp (113 kW)
* Propeller diameter: 74 inches (1.9 m)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 123 knots (142 mph, 230 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 108 knots (124 mph (200 km/h), 201 km/h)
* Stall speed: 47 knots (54 mph, 87 km/h)
* Range: 465 nm (535 sm, 867 km)
* Service ceiling: 14,300 feet (4400 m)
* Rate of climb: 660 ft/min (3.4 m/s)
* Wing loading: 13.4 lb/sq ft (64.4 kg/sq m)
* Power/mass: 14.3 lb/hp (0.116 kW/kg)