This 1976 Cessna 177B Cardinal Is a Thoughtfully Designed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

1976 Cessna 177B Cardinal [Courtesy: Jon Spaulding]

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 1976 Cessna 177B Cardinal.

During the mid-1960s, after selling the 172 Skyhawk for 10 years or so, Cessna started looking into a successor to its popular all-around four-seater.

Pilots had told the company that while the 172 performed many airborne tasks well, it could stand improvement in a few areas. Generally they wanted a more modern design with a boost in comfort and speed. Cessna presented its answer, the 177 Cardinal, as a 1968 model.

Visual differences were noticeable. The Cardinal was cleaned up, with a sleek fuselage, nicely raked windshield, cantilever wing, and stabilator. It certainly looked faster than the 172, and it was, though there were a few glitches. The model's early development kept it from catching on.

Cessna’s big mistake with the Cardinal was using the same 150 hp engine that powered the 172. The 177 needed more muscle, and the 180 hp version for sale here represents a sweet spot for performance and economy.

Cardinal owners point to thoughtful features, such as its large doors that open especially wide to ease ingress and egress, and the large windshield and seating position ahead of the wing, which improve the pilot’s visibility. While the Cardinal might have suffered a rough start 50-odd years ago, it has a lot to offer today’s pilots in terms of performance and aesthetics.

This 1976 Cardinal has 2,763 hours on the airframe and 134 hours on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1F6D engine since overhaul.

The panel features a PS Engineering PM-8000G audio panel, dual Narco MK-12D Nav/Comms, Lynx L3 NGT-9000 ADS-B In/Out transponder and, JPI EDM 900 engine management system. Additional equipment includes a Horton STOL kit, Rosen visors, BAS four-point inertia reel shoulder harnesses, and Great Lakes Aero vent windows.

Pilots who like the essential Cessna high-wing design but would prefer a less common, more modern interpretation should consider this 1976 Cessna 177B Cardinal, which is available for $129,900 on AircraftForSale.

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