Cessna 177

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177 Cardinal
Type	Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Cessna Aircraft Company
Maiden flight	1967
Introduced	1968
Produced	1968-1978
Number built	4,295

The Cessna 177 Cardinal is a light, high-wing general aviation aircraft that was intended to complement and later replace Cessna's 172 Skyhawk. First announced in 1967, it was produced from 1968 to 1978.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Cessna 177 1.2 Cessna 177A 1.3 Cessna 177B 1.4 Cessna 177RG 2 Sales 3 Present day 4 Aircraft type clubs 5 The Cessna 177 in popular culture 6 Specifications (Cessna 177B) 7 References 8 External links 9 Related content

[edit] History

The Cessna 177 was designed in the mid-1960s when the engineers at Cessna were asked to create a "futuristic 1970s successor to the Cessna 172". The resulting aircraft featured newer technology such as a cantilever wing with a laminar flow airfoil. The 177 is the only production high-wing single-engined Cessna to have both fixed landing gear and a cantilever wing without strut bracing.

[edit] Cessna 177

The 1968 model 177 was initially sold with a 150 hp (110 kW) engine to attract buyers who were considering the 172, which sold with the same engine. Unfortunately the 177 was underpowered and suffered from other problems, such as a dangerous tendency for the tail to stall. This issue was quickly resolved through the 'Cardinal Rule' program, which modified all Cardinals in the fleet shortly after the 177 was introduced. Though the 177 initially sold well, overall sales did not meet company expectations.

[edit] Cessna 177A

Recognizing that the aircraft was underpowered, Cessna introduced the 177A in 1969. The revision featured a 180 hp (135 kW) version of the same Lycoming O-360 used in the 177, moving the design's price and role somewhere between that of the 172 and 182. The additional power improved cruise speed by 11 knots (20 km/h).^[1]

[edit] Cessna 177B

1970 saw the introduction of the 177B, which had a new wing airfoil, a constant-speed propeller, and other minor improvements. The 177B weighed 145 lb (66 kg) more empty than the earlier 177, with maximum takeoff weight increased from 2,350 lb (1,067 kg) to 2,500 lb (1,135 kg).^[1] Despite these upgrades, the 177B was outsold by the 172, the airplane it was intended to replace.

[edit] Cessna 177RG

The final aircraft in the 177 line was the retractable-gear 177RG, which Cessna began producing in 1971 as a direct competitor to the Piper PA-28-200R Cherokee Arrow and Beechcraft Sierra. The RG had a 200 hp (150 kW) engine to offset the 300 lb (136 kg) increase in maximum weight, much of which was from the hydraulic gear mechanism.

The additional power and cleaner lines of the 177RG resulted in a cruise speed of 146 knots (270 km/h), 22 knots (41 km/h) faster than the 177B.^[1]

[edit] Sales

The 177 cost more than the 172 and had several design disadvantages, such as the tendency of the large cabin doors to slam forward into the fuselage when caught by gusty tailwinds. Due to the poor reputation of the early models, the Cardinal was consistently outsold by the Skyhawk despite the improvements made to the 177s built after 1971.

While not a commercial failure, the 177 was not a success by Cessna's standards. Both the 177B and 177RG ceased production in 1978, just ten years after the first 177 was introduced.

[edit] Present day

Today both the 177 and 177RG are considered desirable aircraft to own, mostly because of the large doors which offer easy entry, the aircraft's reasonable performance for the horsepower, active owners groups and the aircraft's attractive looks.

The 177 offers much better upwards visibility than a 172 because of its steeply raked windshield and more aft-mounted wing. The absence of an obstructing wing support strut makes the aircraft an excellent platform for aerial photography.

[edit] Aircraft type clubs

The Cessna 177 and 177RG family of aircraft are supported by several active aircraft type clubs, including the Cardinal Flyers Online and the Cessna Pilots Association.

[edit] The Cessna 177 in popular culture

A Cessna 177 is prominently featured throughout the 1968 Russ Meyer movie "Vixen!". In the film the early-model 177 is shown flying from a mountain airstrip with four occupants and a heavy fuel load, a mission the 150 hp version was unable to carry-out due to its lack of power. The 177's lack of wing struts and exceptionally large doors made it relatively easy to film the actors sitting in the airplane, an important attribute in filming a low-budget, tightly-scheduled B-movie.

[edit] Specifications (Cessna 177B)

Data from Airliners.net^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 27 ft 8 in (8.44 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
• Height: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
• Wing area: 174 ft² (16.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,495 lb (680 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,500 lb (1,100 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-360-A1F6D flat-4 engine, 180 hp (135 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 136 knots (157 mph, 250 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 124 knots (143 mph, 230 km/h)
• Range: 604 nm (695 mi, 1,120 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,600 ft (4,450 m)
• Rate of climb: 840 ft/min (4.27m/s)

[edit] References

• Cardinal Flyers Online

[edit] External links

• Cardinal Flyers Online
• Cessna Pilots Association

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

• Beechcraft Musketeer
• Piper Cherokee

 

 

See also