Pilawt
In the Clouds
At first blush the postwar Cessna model number system appears to make sense. When you look closer, it breaks down. There’s no rhyme or reason to it other than marketing, and sometimes it varies depending on the year. Only one postwar Cessna model number matches the rated horsepower (the Model 175/Skylark – 1958-62 – had a 175-hp engine).
Someone recently asked how do the designations XP and SP fit in with the 172 line.
‘XP’ and ‘SP’ are marketing names, not model numbers. The name “Hawk XP” was used only in connection with the fixed-gear Model R172K (1977-81) with a 195-hp, six-cylinder Continental IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller.
The R172 series was developed in the mid-1960s with a 210-hp Continental engine. It used the same Type Certificate as the discontinued Model 175. It was first produced (R172E) in 1967 as the military T-41B trainer. The following year a civilian version went into production at Cessna’s affiliate in France as the Model FR172E Reims Rocket, but not in the US.
In the mid-1970s Cessna decided to discontinue the Cardinal. To fill its niche in the product line between the Skyhawk and Skylane, they introduced an “Americanized” version of the Reims Rocket, the R172K Hawk XP. Mainly for noise reasons, the engine was de-rated to 195 hp in the US version, though there are STC'd conversions available to get that extra hp back.
When Cessna stopped building light singles in the mid-1980s it had two versions of the fixed-gear 172 in the catalog. There was the 172P Skyhawk with a 160-hp Lycoming O-320, and the 172Q Cutlass with a 180-hp Lycoming O-360, both carbureted and both with fixed-pitch prop. The retractable “Cutlass RG” (Model 172RG) had the same O-360, but with constant-speed prop. When they resumed production in 1995, it was at first only the Model 172R Skyhawk, with a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360, de-rated to 160 hp to match the old Skyhawks. A couple of years later they responded to customer interest by bringing out the “Skyhawk SP” (Model 172S), with the same engine and a different prop, allowing it to put out a full 180 hp. Both the 172R and 172S are in production now, but without looking at the logos or the tachometer it’s near impossible to tell them apart.
One of the least-known 172 variants is the Model P172D “172 Powermatic” and the deluxe version, “Skyhawk Powermatic.” Only 65 were built, all in the 1963 model year. The slow-selling Model 175 was discontinued after the 1962 model year, but for one year its 175-hp power plant and constant-speed prop were merged into the restyled 172 line, along with the usual 145-hp 172 and Skyhawk.
And what do those prefix and suffix letters mean? You'll be sorry you asked.
A retractable 172 is a Model 172RG. A retractable Cardinal is a Model 177RG. So of course a retractable 182 is a ... nope, it's a Model R182. But a Model R172 is a fixed-gear 172 with a bigger engine. And don't confuse the Model R182 with the Model 182R. Or the Model 182T, or a turbocharged Model T182. You could also have a fixed gear Model T182R, but the turbo'ed retractable is the Model TR182. Still with me?
![>](http://<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/crazy.gif" alt="crazy" title="crazy" height="15" width="15" />
Another big-engine 172 was the Model P172, but a Model P206 had the same size engine as the other 206's but with nicer seats. And a Model P210 was a 210 with pressurization.
Put an 'A' in front of a Model 150 or 152 (A150/A152) and you've made it aerobatic. Put an 'A' in front of a 185 Skywagon or 188 Agwagon and you've made it with a bigger engine. Put an 'A' in front of a 182 and you've made it ... in Argentina!
But a Model F182 (or F150, F152, F172, FR172, F177RG, F337 or F406) was built in France. Then there's the Model FRA150 -- an aerobatic 150 built in France, with a larger engine (130 hp RR/Continental O-240).
There will be a quiz! [IMG]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" />)
Someone recently asked how do the designations XP and SP fit in with the 172 line.
‘XP’ and ‘SP’ are marketing names, not model numbers. The name “Hawk XP” was used only in connection with the fixed-gear Model R172K (1977-81) with a 195-hp, six-cylinder Continental IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller.
The R172 series was developed in the mid-1960s with a 210-hp Continental engine. It used the same Type Certificate as the discontinued Model 175. It was first produced (R172E) in 1967 as the military T-41B trainer. The following year a civilian version went into production at Cessna’s affiliate in France as the Model FR172E Reims Rocket, but not in the US.
In the mid-1970s Cessna decided to discontinue the Cardinal. To fill its niche in the product line between the Skyhawk and Skylane, they introduced an “Americanized” version of the Reims Rocket, the R172K Hawk XP. Mainly for noise reasons, the engine was de-rated to 195 hp in the US version, though there are STC'd conversions available to get that extra hp back.
When Cessna stopped building light singles in the mid-1980s it had two versions of the fixed-gear 172 in the catalog. There was the 172P Skyhawk with a 160-hp Lycoming O-320, and the 172Q Cutlass with a 180-hp Lycoming O-360, both carbureted and both with fixed-pitch prop. The retractable “Cutlass RG” (Model 172RG) had the same O-360, but with constant-speed prop. When they resumed production in 1995, it was at first only the Model 172R Skyhawk, with a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360, de-rated to 160 hp to match the old Skyhawks. A couple of years later they responded to customer interest by bringing out the “Skyhawk SP” (Model 172S), with the same engine and a different prop, allowing it to put out a full 180 hp. Both the 172R and 172S are in production now, but without looking at the logos or the tachometer it’s near impossible to tell them apart.
One of the least-known 172 variants is the Model P172D “172 Powermatic” and the deluxe version, “Skyhawk Powermatic.” Only 65 were built, all in the 1963 model year. The slow-selling Model 175 was discontinued after the 1962 model year, but for one year its 175-hp power plant and constant-speed prop were merged into the restyled 172 line, along with the usual 145-hp 172 and Skyhawk.
And what do those prefix and suffix letters mean? You'll be sorry you asked.
A retractable 172 is a Model 172RG. A retractable Cardinal is a Model 177RG. So of course a retractable 182 is a ... nope, it's a Model R182. But a Model R172 is a fixed-gear 172 with a bigger engine. And don't confuse the Model R182 with the Model 182R. Or the Model 182T, or a turbocharged Model T182. You could also have a fixed gear Model T182R, but the turbo'ed retractable is the Model TR182. Still with me?
