1956 Cessna 172

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most-produced aircraft in history — over 44,000 built since 1956 and still in current production. A four-seat, high-wing piston single — powered by a Continental O-300 on early models (1956–1967) and Lycoming power from 1968 — the carbureted O-320 (145–160 hp) and, on the modern 172R/S, the fuel-injected IO-360 (160–180 hp) — the 172 is the world's default flight trainer and the most commonly owned first aircraft. The family spans more than seven decades and more than a dozen letter variants: from 1950s straight-tail models through the long-running N/P era (O-320, 160 hp, the used-market sweet-spot) to the current fuel-injected Skyhawk SP with Garmin G1000. The 172RG Cutlass adds retractable gear (approximately 140 kt, complex endorsement). Cruise ranges from approximately 120 kt on earlier models to approximately 124 kt on the 172S. Parts availability is exceptional — the support network is wider than any other single-engine type.