Cessna 175 Skylark
Cessna · United States · first flew 1958 · light aircraft
The Cessna 175 Skylark was a geared-engine variant of the Cessna 172 produced from 1958 to 1962, intended to offer improved climb performance for operations from hot-and-high or short airstrips.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing four-seater closely related to the Cessna 172 but with a geared Continental GO-300 engine
- Engine cowling slightly bulkier than the 172 owing to the larger-diameter geared powerplant
- Marketed as offering more climb performance than the 172 at the cost of greater maintenance demands
Virtually identical to the Cessna 172 in planform; the slightly deeper cowling profile and the absence of a 172 data plate are the main field distinctions.
Specifications
- The Cessna 175 Skylark has a length of 8.2 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.92 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 232 km/h (144 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 3 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Cessna fitted the Continental GO-300 geared engine to a 172 airframe to allow a larger propeller to turn at lower RPM, theoretically boosting climb. In practice, the gearbox proved troublesome and maintenance costs were higher than the direct-drive 172, leading Cessna to discontinue the model after only four production years.
Variants
Models 175, 175A, 175B, and 175C were produced with minor equipment updates; a turbocharged variant was proposed but not produced.
Where you'll see it
Around 2,100 examples were built; many survive in private hands in North America with owners who have converted the gearbox to a conventional direct-drive engine installation.
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