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 1957 Cessna 172.
For pilots seeking a classic four-seat trainer with bold styling and backcountry chops, this Cessna delivers both nostalgia and performance. Hangar kept for the last 20 years under single-family ownership, the straight-tail airframe sports a striking red, white, and blue paint scheme that pairs perfectly with its Horton STOL kit.
The airplane is based in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has 4,347 hours total time. The Continental O-300 engine was overhauled in December 2019 and now has just 127 hours on it, alongside a new climb prop. Engine accessories include a Skytech starter, Skytech alternator, Slick magnetos, Steve’s Aircraft oil cooler kit, Real Gasket seal kit, and F&M oil filter adapter.
Avionics are centered on a King KMA-20 audio panel feeding dual King KX-175 and King KX-125 nav/com units. The aircraft sports a King CDI with glideslope receiver as well as a King KT-76A transponder and uAvionix tail beacon ADS-B transmitter. Pilots will appreciate its dual attitude indicators—vacuum-driven primary and electric backup—for added redundancy. A lighted panel cover is also included, though not currently installed.
The Horton STOL modification features leading-edge cuffs and drooped ailerons that cut takeoff and landing distances dramatically and make this 172 ideal for backcountry strips and short-field operations. Horton Aero completed the installation and also painted it to match the fuselage.
Although the aircraft has a few minor hail dings, the airframe is in good shape and is corrosion-free. The original interior from 1957 is in fair but workable condition. Seats and sidewalls are secure, although the headliner will need replacing soon. Rosen sun visors improve cockpit comfort and safety.
Imaged copies of the logbooks are available upon request to verify maintenance and compliance. An annual inspection is underway and pitot-static and transponder inspections are current.
Priced at $68,500, this 1957 Cessna 172 combines classic brand reliability with enhanced STOL performance and a fresh engine package. To explore loan options, visit FLYING Finance for our aircraft payment calculator or connect with an aviation finance specialist at flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: The Evolution of the Cessna 172
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- Plane & Pilot: Cessna 172
- Plane & Pilot: Hacienda: A Legendary Modified Cessna 172
- Plane & Pilot: Sensenich Introduces New Cessna 172 Propeller
- The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 172
- AVweb: Buying a Used Aircraft: Cessna 172
