Cessna 172S Skyhawk Specs: Weights, V-Speeds, Cruise

Q: How much fuel does a Cessna 172S Skyhawk hold?

53 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 10.4 GPH that is roughly 5.1 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

Q: What is the useful load of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk?

The handbook gives a maximum useful load of 895 lb: its 2558 lb maximum ramp weight minus a standard empty weight of 1663 lb for a standard-equipped airplane. Ramp weight sits 8 lb above the 2550 lb maximum takeoff weight to allow for the fuel burned during start, taxi and runup. Use your aircraft's own weight-and-balance records, not handbook figures.

Q: What is the Vne of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk?

VNE (never exceed) is 163 kt and VNO (max structural cruising) is 129 kt. Verify against the POH for your serial number.

Home › Aircraft › Cessna 172S Skyhawk

In the FlightDecide app since 2026-07-16. Reviewed 2026-09-28. 7 of 8 tables from the handbook. Anything marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” comes from FlightDecide's earlier library and hasn't been checked against the printed page.

Cessna 172S Skyhawk preflight numbers at a glance: max gross weight 2550 lb, handbook maximum useful load 895 lb, 53 gal usable fuel, cruise up to about 124 KTAS (reference figure at 8000 ft, standard day). 7 of the 8 performance tables below are read from the published POH/AFM and cite their figure and page; treat the ones marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” as estimates. Use them for planning and study, and confirm against the POH for your specific serial number before flight.

Cessna 172S Skyhawk specs and key numbers

Not yet verified against the handbook: engine, propeller, max gross weight, usable fuel and service ceiling

Engine	Lycoming IO-360-L2A
Propeller	McCauley 1A170E/JHA7660
Max gross weight	2550 lb
Max ramp weight	2558 lb
Standard empty weight (handbook)	1663 lb
Max useful load (handbook)	895 lb
Usable fuel	53 gal
Service ceiling	14,000 ft

Cessna 172S Skyhawk V-speeds

Not yet verified against the handbook

Knots indicated (KIAS) unless the POH states otherwise. Speeds vary by model year and serial; the placarded speeds and your POH govern.

Speed	Value	Meaning
V_S0	40 kt	Stall, landing configuration
V_S1	48 kt	Stall, clean configuration
V_X	62 kt	Best angle of climb
V_Y	74 kt	Best rate of climb
V_A	105 kt	Design maneuvering speed (at max gross)
V_FE	85 kt	Max flaps extended
V_NO	129 kt	Max structural cruising
V_NE	163 kt	Never exceed
Best glide	68 kt	Best glide speed

Cessna 172S Skyhawk cruise performance

Not yet verified against the handbook

Source not verified: these rows are the library's earlier transcription, and the pages they cite have not been checked against the handbook. True airspeed and fuel flow depend on altitude, power setting, temperature and leaning technique.

Source: Figure 5-8

Recommended lean mixture: 111 published rows
Pressure altitude	RPM	ISA-20 °C			ISA			ISA+20 °C
Pressure altitude	RPM	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH
2,000 ft	2,100	47	92	6.9	44	90	6.6	42	89	6.3
2,000 ft	2,200	53	99	7.7	50	97	7.3	47	95	6.9
2,000 ft	2,300	61	105	8.6	57	104	8.1	53	102	7.7
2,000 ft	2,400	69	111	9.6	64	110	9.0	60	109	8.5
2,000 ft	2,500	78	115	10.6	73	115	9.9	68	115	9.4
2,000 ft	2,550	83	117	11.1	77	118	10.5	72	117	9.9
4,000 ft	2,100	45	91	6.6	42	89	6.4	40	87	6.1
4,000 ft	2,200	51	98	7.4	48	96	7.0	45	94	6.7
4,000 ft	2,300	58	104	8.2	54	102	7.7	51	101	7.3
4,000 ft	2,400	65	110	9.1	61	109	8.5	57	107	8.1
4,000 ft	2,500	74	115	10.1	69	115	9.5	64	114	8.9
4,000 ft	2,550	79	118	10.6	73	117	9.9	68	117	9.4
4,000 ft	2,600	83	120	11.1	77	120	10.4	72	119	9.8
6,000 ft	2,200	48	96	7.1	45	94	6.7	43	92	6.4
6,000 ft	2,300	54	103	7.8	51	101	7.4	48	99	7.0
6,000 ft	2,400	62	109	8.6	57	108	8.2	54	106	7.7
6,000 ft	2,500	70	115	9.6	65	114	9.0	60	112	8.5
6,000 ft	2,600	78	120	10.6	73	119	9.9	68	118	9.4
6,000 ft	2,650	83	122	11.1	77	122	10.4	72	121	9.8
8,000 ft	2,200	46	94	6.8	43	92	6.5	41	90	6.2
8,000 ft	2,300	52	101	7.5	48	99	7.1	46	97	6.8
8,000 ft	2,400	58	108	8.2	54	106	7.8	51	104	7.4
8,000 ft	2,500	65	114	9.1	61	112	8.6	57	111	8.1
8,000 ft	2,600	74	120	10.0	68	119	9.4	64	117	8.9
8,000 ft	2,650	78	122	10.5	72	122	9.9	67	120	9.3
8,000 ft	2,700	83	125	11.1	77	124	10.4	71	123	9.7
10,000 ft	2,300	49	100	7.2	46	97	6.8	44	95	6.5
10,000 ft	2,400	55	106	7.9	51	104	7.5	49	102	7.1
10,000 ft	2,500	62	113	8.7	57	111	8.2	54	109	7.8
10,000 ft	2,600	69	119	9.5	64	117	9.0	60	115	8.5
10,000 ft	2,650	73	122	10.0	68	120	9.4	63	119	8.9
10,000 ft	2,700	78	124	10.5	72	123	9.8	67	122	9.3
12,000 ft	2,300	47	98	6.9	44	95	6.6	41	92	6.3
12,000 ft	2,400	52	105	7.5	49	102	7.1	46	100	6.8
12,000 ft	2,500	58	111	8.3	54	109	7.8	51	107	7.4
12,000 ft	2,600	65	118	9.1	61	116	8.5	57	114	8.1
12,000 ft	2,650	69	121	9.5	64	119	8.9	60	117	8.5

How much runway does a Cessna 172S Skyhawk need?

Handbook figures at 2550 lb, 0 ft pressure altitude, 10 °C. Real-world technique, wind, surface, and density altitude move these substantially, so apply your own margin (many pilots use 1.5× the book number) and run the numbers for the actual conditions.

Handbook figure	Distance
Takeoff ground roll	925 ft
Takeoff over a 50 ft obstacle	1575 ft
Landing ground roll	565 ft
Landing over a 50 ft obstacle	1320 ft
Rate of climb	710 fpm

See how density altitude stretches these distances on a hot day.

Takeoff distance

Flaps 10 deg, full throttle prior to brake release, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Cessna Model 172S · P/N 172SPHUS05 · Figure 5-5 · Short Field Takeoff Distance · pages 5-14, 5-15, 5-16

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,550 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	860 / 1,465	925 / 1,575	995 / 1,690	1,070 / 1,810	1,150 / 1,945
1,000 ft	940 / 1,600	1,010 / 1,720	1,090 / 1,850	1,170 / 1,990	1,260 / 2,135
2,000 ft	1,025 / 1,755	1,110 / 1,890	1,195 / 2,035	1,285 / 2,190	1,380 / 2,355
3,000 ft	1,125 / 1,925	1,215 / 2,080	1,310 / 2,240	1,410 / 2,420	1,515 / 2,605
4,000 ft	1,235 / 2,120	1,335 / 2,295	1,440 / 2,480	1,550 / 2,685	1,660 / 2,880
5,000 ft	1,355 / 2,345	1,465 / 2,545	1,585 / 2,755	1,705 / 2,975	1,825 / 3,205
6,000 ft	1,495 / 2,605	1,615 / 2,830	1,745 / 3,075	1,875 / 3,320	2,010 / 3,585
7,000 ft	1,645 / 2,910	1,785 / 3,170	1,920 / 3,440	2,065 / 3,730	2,215 / 4,045
8,000 ft	1,820 / 3,265	1,970 / 3,575	2,120 / 3,880	2,280 / 4,225	2,450 / 4,615
9,000 ft	2,014 / 3,663	2,174 / 4,032	2,341 / 4,376	2,517 / 4,786	2,710 / 5,265
10,000 ft	2,228 / 4,110	2,400 / 4,547	2,585 / 4,936	2,779 / 5,421	2,997 / 6,007

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,400 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	745 / 1,275	800 / 1,370	860 / 1,470	925 / 1,570	995 / 1,685
1,000 ft	810 / 1,390	875 / 1,495	940 / 1,605	1,010 / 1,720	1,085 / 1,845
2,000 ft	885 / 1,520	955 / 1,635	1,030 / 1,760	1,110 / 1,890	1,190 / 2,030
3,000 ft	970 / 1,665	1,050 / 1,795	1,130 / 1,930	1,215 / 2,080	1,305 / 2,230
4,000 ft	1,065 / 1,830	1,150 / 1,975	1,240 / 2,130	1,335 / 2,295	1,430 / 2,455
5,000 ft	1,170 / 2,015	1,265 / 2,180	1,360 / 2,355	1,465 / 2,530	1,570 / 2,715
6,000 ft	1,285 / 2,230	1,390 / 2,410	1,500 / 2,610	1,610 / 2,805	1,725 / 3,015
7,000 ft	1,415 / 2,470	1,530 / 2,685	1,650 / 2,900	1,770 / 3,125	1,900 / 3,370
8,000 ft	1,560 / 2,755	1,690 / 3,000	1,815 / 3,240	1,950 / 3,500	2,095 / 3,790
9,000 ft	1,720 / 3,073	1,867 / 3,352	1,997 / 3,620	2,148 / 3,920	2,310 / 4,262
10,000 ft	1,896 / 3,427	2,062 / 3,745	2,196 / 4,044	2,367 / 4,390	2,547 / 4,794

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,200 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	610 / 1,055	655 / 1,130	705 / 1,205	760 / 1,290	815 / 1,380
1,000 ft	665 / 1,145	720 / 1,230	770 / 1,315	830 / 1,410	890 / 1,505
2,000 ft	725 / 1,250	785 / 1,340	845 / 1,435	905 / 1,540	975 / 1,650
3,000 ft	795 / 1,365	860 / 1,465	925 / 1,570	995 / 1,685	1,065 / 1,805
4,000 ft	870 / 1,490	940 / 1,605	1,010 / 1,725	1,090 / 1,855	1,165 / 1,975
5,000 ft	955 / 1,635	1,030 / 1,765	1,110 / 1,900	1,195 / 2,035	1,275 / 2,175
6,000 ft	1,050 / 1,800	1,130 / 1,940	1,220 / 2,090	1,310 / 2,240	1,400 / 2,395
7,000 ft	1,150 / 1,985	1,245 / 2,145	1,340 / 2,305	1,435 / 2,475	1,540 / 2,650
8,000 ft	1,270 / 2,195	1,370 / 2,375	1,475 / 2,555	1,580 / 2,745	1,695 / 2,950
9,000 ft	1,403 / 2,427	1,508 / 2,630	1,624 / 2,832	1,740 / 3,044	1,866 / 3,284
10,000 ft	1,549 / 2,684	1,659 / 2,912	1,787 / 3,139	1,915 / 3,377	2,053 / 3,656

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Short field technique as specified in Section 4.
Above 3000 ft elevation, lean the mixture to maximum RPM in a full throttle static runup.
Decrease distances 10% for each 9 knots headwind. For tailwinds up to 10 knots, increase distances 10% for each 2 knots.
For operation on dry grass runway, increase distances by 15% of the ground roll figure.

Landing distance

Flaps 30 deg, power off, maximum braking, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Cessna Model 172S · P/N 172SPHUS05 · Figure 5-11 · Short Field Landing Distance · page 5-23/5-24

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,550 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	545 / 1,290	565 / 1,320	585 / 1,350	605 / 1,380	625 / 1,415
1,000 ft	565 / 1,320	585 / 1,350	605 / 1,385	625 / 1,420	650 / 1,450
2,000 ft	585 / 1,355	610 / 1,385	630 / 1,420	650 / 1,455	670 / 1,490
3,000 ft	610 / 1,385	630 / 1,425	655 / 1,460	675 / 1,495	695 / 1,530
4,000 ft	630 / 1,425	655 / 1,460	675 / 1,495	700 / 1,535	725 / 1,570
5,000 ft	655 / 1,460	680 / 1,500	705 / 1,535	725 / 1,575	750 / 1,615
6,000 ft	680 / 1,500	705 / 1,540	730 / 1,580	755 / 1,620	780 / 1,660
7,000 ft	705 / 1,545	730 / 1,585	760 / 1,625	785 / 1,665	810 / 1,705
8,000 ft	735 / 1,585	760 / 1,630	790 / 1,670	815 / 1,715	840 / 1,755
9,000 ft	766 / 1,626	791 / 1,676	821 / 1,716	846 / 1,767	871 / 1,806
10,000 ft	799 / 1,668	824 / 1,724	854 / 1,764	878 / 1,820	903 / 1,859

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Short field technique as specified in Section 4.
Decrease distances 10% for each 9 knots headwind. For tailwinds up to 10 knots, increase distances 10% for each 2 knots.
For operation on dry grass runway, increase distances by 45% of the ground roll figure.

Rate of climb

Flaps up, full throttle

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Cessna Model 172S · P/N 172SPHUS05 · Figure 5-6 · Maximum Rate of Climb · page 5-17

Rate of climb in feet per minute at 2,550 lb
Pressure altitude	-20 °C	0 °C	20 °C	40 °C
Sea level	855	785	710	645
1,000 ft	808	740	668	602
2,000 ft	760	695	625	560
3,000 ft	722	658	590	528
4,000 ft	685	620	555	495
5,000 ft	630	568	502	442
6,000 ft	575	515	450	390
7,000 ft	520	460	398	338
8,000 ft	465	405	345	285
9,000 ft	412	352	292	232
10,000 ft	360	300	240	180

from the handbook interpolated

Mixture leaned above 3,000 feet for maximum RPM.
The handbook prints no value at 12,000 ft / 40 C; none is published here.

Stall speeds

Power off

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Cessna Model 172S · P/N 172SPHUS05 · Stall Speeds · page 5-12

KIAS (bold) over KCAS, Most rearward C.G.
Flap setting	0°	30°	45°	60°
Flaps up	48 / 53	52 / 57	57 / 63	68 / 75
Flaps 10°	42 / 50	45 / 54	50 / 59	59 / 71
Flaps 30°	40 / 48	43 / 52	48 / 57	57 / 68

KIAS (bold) over KCAS, Most forward C.G.
Flap setting	0°	30°	45°	60°
Flaps up	48 / 53	52 / 57	57 / 63	68 / 75
Flaps 10°	43 / 51	46 / 55	51 / 61	61 / 72
Flaps 30°	40 / 48	43 / 52	48 / 57	57 / 68

Time, fuel and distance to climb

Flaps up, full throttle, standard temperature

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Cessna Model 172S · P/N 172SPHUS05 · Time, Fuel and Distance to Climb · page 5-18

Time, Fuel and Distance to Climb
Pressure altitude	Climb speed (KIAS)	Rate of climb (fpm)	Time (min)	Fuel used (gal)	Distance (NM)
Sea level	74	730	0	0.0	0
1,000 ft	73	695	1	0.4	2
2,000 ft	73	655	3	0.8	4
3,000 ft	73	620	4	1.2	6
4,000 ft	73	600	6	1.5	8
5,000 ft	73	550	8	1.9	10
6,000 ft	73	505	10	2.2	13
7,000 ft	73	455	12	2.6	16
8,000 ft	72	410	14	3.0	19
9,000 ft	72	360	17	3.4	22
10,000 ft	72	315	20	3.9	27
11,000 ft	72	265	24	4.4	32
12,000 ft	72	220	28	5.0	38

Common Questions

How fast does a Cessna 172S Skyhawk cruise?

Per the library's cruise table, not yet verified against the handbook, up to about 124 KTAS at 8000 ft on a standard day, burning roughly 10.4 GPH at that setting. Typical everyday cruise settings run slower and leaner; see the table above.

How much fuel does a Cessna 172S Skyhawk hold?

53 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 10.4 GPH that is roughly 5.1 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

What is the useful load of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk?

The handbook gives a maximum useful load of 895 lb: its 2558 lb maximum ramp weight minus a standard empty weight of 1663 lb for a standard-equipped airplane. Ramp weight sits 8 lb above the 2550 lb maximum takeoff weight to allow for the fuel burned during start, taxi and runup. Your aircraft's actual empty weight and CG come from its own weight-and-balance records. Always use those, not handbook figures.

What is the Vne of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk?

V_NE (never exceed) is 163 kt and V_NO (max structural cruising) is 129 kt. Full V-speed table above; verify against the POH for your serial.

Plan a flight in this aircraft

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Reference data for planning and study: approximate, and not a substitute for the FAA-approved AFM/POH for your specific aircraft, an official weather briefing, or your judgment as pilot in command (14 CFR 91.3). Source: Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, Model 172S, Cessna Aircraft Company. Cruise performance rows transcribed verbatim from Part Number 172SPHUS05 (Original Issue 8 July 1998, Revision 5 dated 19 July 2004), Section 5 Performance, Figure 5-8 Cruise Performance (Sheets 1 of 2 and 2 of 2, pages 5-19 / 5-20). Conditions: 2550 lb, Recommended Lean Mixture at all altitudes. Data synced from the FlightDecide aircraft library on 2026-09-28.