Ownership doesn’t come much easier than in the form of a proven Cessna 172. With so many examples manufactured over the years, both parts and qualified service are easily sourced. Additionally, the flying qualities are fantastic, whether training, pleasure flying, cross-countries, or a combination of it all is the task at hand.

Built in 1965, this F-model sports the earliest engine fitted to the 172, the Continental O-300. With six cylinders and 145 horsepower, this engine has two more cylinders and fifteen fewer horsepower than later 172s. In exchange for the lower power rating, the six-cylinder is well-respected among owners for its surprisingly smooth operation and robust durability. It’s also known for powering the airplane that to this day holds the endurance record, staying aloft for a staggering 64 days.

While staying aloft for months at a time and refueling in flight from automobiles below might not be in your plans, enjoying safety and reliability between burger stops might. An assortment of intelligent modifications helps to achieve this. The vacuum system has been removed entirely, for example. In its place are two AV-30 flight instruments. 

The brakes, tires, magnetos, battery, and starter have also been replaced. Landing and taxi lights have been upgraded to LEDs. Best of all, the airframe has only 2,500 hours since new, making it markedly fresher than the vast majority of legacy 172s available on the market today.

If you’re looking for an airplane that’s unlikely to require major maintenance anytime soon, this pairing of a low-time airframe and freshly overhauled engine and propeller provides a compelling option that will likely provide decades of flying fun.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance and quickly calculate your monthly payment using the airplane finance calculator. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com. 

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The aircraft were slated to be ferried from Independence, Kansas, to Southern Illinois Airport (KMDH). Several SIU aviation program officials, including director José R. Ruiz, chief flight instructor Steven Goetz, and several flight instructors were to be on hand to welcome the new aircraft.

“I am very excited at the prospect of acquiring seven new flight training aircraft because of the impact the new additions will have on our ability to serve our students,” Ruiz said. “Our students deserve the finest flight training available, and these new aircraft will assist us in meeting that expectation.”

According to Goetz, there were more than 350 students enrolled in the aviation flight program in the Fall of 2022, and he expects that number to increase in 2023. With the new additions, the number of aircraft available to the students climbs to 47.

Goetz noted that the fleet includes airplanes that rolled off the assembly line in the 1970s, and continuous maintenance and upgrades keep the aircraft airworthy.

“We use every bit of life out of them in order to make sure that we are being good stewards of our students’ money,” Goetz explains. “As the aviation industry grows, we have more and more demand for pilots and for flight training. Being able to bring on new airplanes that will allow our students to train on a modern flight deck and prepare for their careers better positions us to support the needs of the aviation industry in the nation.”

SIU Aviation has several aviation majors including aviation flight, aviation management, and aviation technologies.

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