If you’re going to start with just one airplane, you really can’t do much better than a Cessna 172, the most manufactured airplane in history – and it’s still being produced.  That’s right, more 172s have been built (50,000+ since it was first introduced in 1956) than any other aircraft of any type – civilian or military.  That qualifies as a proven design.

While technological advances have brought amazing changes to the instrument panel, structurally, very little has changed over the years.  Many consider the 172 to be the best trainer ever built.

5286L rolled off the line in 2002.  In airplane years, that makes it on the newer side.  Given the meticulous maintenance requirements, airplanes can safely fly for decades.

5286L also qualifies as a Technically Advanced Airplane (TAA) per FAR §61.129(j). This allows us to use it for both commercial and CFI training.