How Far Would You Fly a Cessna 172?

A ferry pilot recently garnered attention for flying a Skyhawk 2,521 miles to Hawaii.

Friday, August 26, 2022 at 11:16 AM ET

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Pilot Tom Lopes waited months for favorable winds before making the flight to Hawaii. [Courtesy: George Hanzawa/Facebook]

Key Takeaways:

Ferry pilot Tom Lopes completed a 2,521-mile, 18-hour nonstop flight in a new Cessna 172 from Merced, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii.
The extensive journey required a special ferry tank for extra fuel and meticulous planning, including waiting months for favorable tailwinds and in-flight communication for optimal conditions.
The flight unexpectedly gained viral attention on social media, as many followers doubted a Cessna 172 could achieve such a long-distance trip without refueling.

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Anyone who has spent years flying a Cessna 172—or just about any other basic small piston-powered aircraft has probably spent time thinking about what it would be like to travel thousands of miles in such an airplane—nonstop.

A ferry pilot named Tom Lopes recently flew 2,521 miles in a new Cessna 172 from Merced Regional Airport/Macready Field (KMCE) in Merced, California, to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (PHNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The flight took just over 18 hours and required a ferry tank with extra fuel and other special equipment and preparation.