This 1979 Cessna 152 Is a Meticulously Restored ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Arizona-based trainer bridges gap between reliability and modern glass-panel precision.

FLYING Staff

Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:23 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1979 Cessna 152 [Credit: Rob Bych]

Key Takeaways:

The article features a 1979 Cessna 152 as "Today's Top Pick," notable for being a meticulously preserved example unlike typical flight school trainers.
Owned by a retired airline captain and always hangared in the Arizona desert, the aircraft has undergone extensive aesthetic and mechanical restoration.
Key upgrades include a fresh coat of paint, a refined cabin with new leather seats and carpeting, Whelen LED lighting, and four-point harnesses.
The cockpit has been "reimagined" with modern avionics, including a Garmin GTN-650xi navigator, dual Garmin GI-275 electronic flight instruments, and ADS-B In/Out compliance.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Cessna 152.

The Cessna 152 has served as the bedrock of pilot training, renowned for its forgiving flight characteristics and bulletproof airframe. However, while many examples have spent their lives enduring the rigors of flight school fleets, this particular airframe represents a departure from that norm. A meticulously preserved machine, it has called the Arizona desert home since it left the factory in 1979.

Owned and operated by a retired airline captain and hangared at Stellar Airpark (P19), this airframe is the definition of a well-cared-for find. With 7,272 total flight hours, it has been the subject of an extensive aesthetic and mechanical restoration. The exterior was treated to a fresh coat of paint in 2018, and the aircraft features thoughtful upgrades, including door locks and a full suite of Whelen LED lighting—landing, taxi, and nav lights—for enhanced visibility and reliability.

Powering this 152 is the 110 hp Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. Known for its legendary reliability, the powerplant recently underwent a fresh annual inspection in February 2026, boasting strong, consistent compressions across all cylinders. Paired with a Sensenich propeller, this Cessna remains as economical as it is sturdy, bolstered by a history of excellent Blackstone Laboratories oil analysis reports and complete, consecutive logbooks that reflect a lifetime of professional maintenance.

Step across the threshold and the distinction between a standard trainer and this edition becomes immediately clear. The cabin was refined in 2017 with new leather seats, plush carpeting, and updated plastic panels. Safety remains a priority in the cockpit, evidenced by the Aero Fabricators four-point harnesses installed in 2019.

The centerpiece of this restoration, however, is a wholesale reimagining of the panel. Anchored by a Garmin GTN-650xi touchscreen navigator and dual Garmin GI-275 electronic flight instruments, this setup provides full situational awareness that rivals modern glass-cockpit airliners. Modern airspace compliance is handled by a Stratus ESG for ADS-B In and Out, while a JPI EDM-700 engine monitor allows the pilot to track the health of the Lycoming with precision.

Listed at $104,900, this 1979 Cessna 152 represents an opportunity to secure what may be the finest example of the breed in the Southwest.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.