American Champion Scout vs Cessna 172
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
American Champion Scout
- For sale now
- 21
- Median asking
- $212,250
- Range
- $135,000–$308,500
- Model years available
- 1974–2026
Cessna 172
- For sale now
- 421
- Median asking
- $134,231
- Range
- $61,563–$324,965
- Model years available
- 1956–2026
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
American Champion Scout — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Cessna 172 — 3 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Continental | 1956–1967 | O-300 | 2300 | 118 | 520 | 137 |
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 128 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 103 |
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | American Champion Scout | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | — | 6810 |
| Serious | — | 542 |
| Fatal | — | 960 |
| Fatalities | — | 1802 |
| % Fatal | — | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all specs
| Spec / Model | American Champion Scout | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $135,000 – $308,500 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 180 HP | 145–160 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 113 kts (209 km/h) | 118–122 kts (226 km/h) |
| Range | 938 nm (1,737 km) | 520–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,150 lbs (975 kg) | 2300–2,400 lbs (1,089 kg) |
| Useful Load | 800 lbs (363 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | — | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 9.0 GPH (34 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | — | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | — | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | — | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | — | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateAmerican Champion Scout
Fuel$50/hr
Cessna 172
Fuel$47/hr
Variable$130/hr
Annual Fixed$18,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr)
$44,000/yr
Which Should You Buy: American Champion Scout or Cessna 172?
Pick the Scout if…
- Longer range — 938 nm vs 518 nm.
Pick the 172 if…
- Budget matters — from $61,563 vs $135,000, you save ~$73,437.
- More seats — 4 vs 2.
- Faster cruise — 118 kts vs 113 kts.
- More inventory — 163 listings vs 2.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, American Champion Scout or Cessna 172?
It depends on your mission and budget.
The Scout cruises at 113 kts with 938 nm range.
The 172 cruises at 118 kts with 518 nm range.
Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
American Champion Scout: from $148,000.
Cessna 172: from $119,900.
Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between American Champion Scout and Cessna 172?
172 engine: LYCOMING (180 hp).
Seats: 2 vs 4.
Cruise: 113 vs 118 kts.
Range: 938 vs 518 nm.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
172: about $130/hr variable cost.
Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
Scout: 2 seats / 800 lb useful load.
172: 4 seats / 878 lb useful load.
Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
172: 1,400-hour TBO, overhaul ~$30,000.
Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data