Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1979 Cessna 172RG Cutlass

This 1979 retractable version of the popular Skyhawk probably served well on a flight school line, and it's now on the market.

At $99,900, the panel is ready for upgrades, with a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel and uAvionix SkyBeacon ADS-B Out to comply with that mandate. [Image capture from AircraftForSale]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Plane&Pilot has launched a new daily feature highlighting affordable aircraft deals sourced from AircraftForSale.com.
  • The inaugural feature showcases a 1979 Cessna 172RG Cutlass, priced at $99,900, which is approximately $20,000 below the model's average market value.
  • This retractable-gear variant of the Skyhawk, offering 5-10 knots more speed, is currently in a softer market due to reduced demand for complex training aircraft.
  • The featured aircraft has high airframe hours but a mid-time 180-hp Lycoming O-360 engine (660 hours SMOH) and includes modern avionics like a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel and uAvionix SkyBeacon ADS-B Out.
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We’re kicking off a new feature for Plane&Pilot readers that will give you insight into the latest affordable aircraft posted on our sister site, AircraftForSale.com. Check back each day for a featured deal and let us know what you think!

1979 Cessna 172G Cutlass

The common line in aircraft design remains: To get more speed out of an airframe, one way is to tuck up the gear. Cessna gained about 5 to 10 knots on its popular Skyhawk model when it installed its uniquely folding retractable gear and created the Cutlass. Once the darling of flight school flight lines, these 172RGs are now hitting a relatively soft market as training operations no longer need them for the complex portion of a commercial pilot certificate.

This good deal is running about $20,000 less than the average for the model, with high airframe hours (7,372) but a mid-time Lycoming O-360 180-hp engine at 660 hours since major overhaul.

At $99,900, the panel is ready for upgrades, with a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel and uAvionix SkyBeacon ADS-B Out to comply with that mandate.

READ MORE: Organize Your Flight Like a Pro

Interested in more deals like this? Check out AircraftForSale.com and our new PlanePrice feature that gives you a window into the opportunities that are out there. 

Need help financing your dream? Visit our professional team at FLYING Finance for the best way to back your aircraft acquisition plan.

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