This 1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk Is a Watershed ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick

1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk [Courtesy: Manny Lascurain]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

It is safe to call the Cessna 172 Skyhawk a historic aircraft. While it evolved from the 170 taildragger, the early 172 had its own strong identity attributable to its distinctive, squared-off shape and tricycle-gear stance.

Sitting on the ramp in 1956, it was a departure from the designs that populated GA airports at the time. Its then-novel gear arrangement also brought a new level of handling ease that pilots noticed right away. Cessna’s claim that you could land the 172 by simply “driving” it onto the runway might have been a slight exaggeration, but landing one is a cinch compared with taildraggers of the same era.

The 172 Skyhawk made a splash in the GA market that continues to resonate. One certainly could argue that no finer trainer has emerged since the 172 came along. There are other airplanes that serve the training market well, but are they truly better than the 172? I imagine the hangar talk regarding this issue could continue for days or even weeks.

This 1956 Skyhawk has 3,833 hours on the airframe and 375 hours since overhaul on its 145 hp Continental O-300 engine. The aircraft’s VFR panel includes a Bendix KT 170B nav/com, Narco transponder, and intercom. The aircraft’s interior was refurbished in 2022, and the exterior received new paint in 2017.

Pilots who are looking for a stable, forgiving personal or training aircraft with the visual and tactile appeal of an antique should take a look at this 1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which is available for $49,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.