Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

This isn't the aviation equivalent of some cheap date you'll be taking out for one wild, adventurous weekend. The Cessna 172 is more like the love of your life-a steady, constant companion to fly with for a long time to come. A stable and trustworthy plane, most pilots have logged at least a few hours in a Cessna 172, since it's the most widely available aircraft in the rental fleet and is used by most flight schools. Since the first prototype was completed in 1955, more than 35,000 C172s have been produced, making it the world's most popular single-engine plane. One of Cessna's first tricycle-gear airplanes, the 172 quickly became the favorite of a growing class of business pilots. Its reliability and easy handling (along with thoughtful engineering and structural updates) have ensured its continued popularity for more than 35 years.

Updates to the 172 have been carefully chosen and consistently well made. The 172 received its distinctive swept-back tail in 1960 and its helpful wraparound rear window in 1962. In 1964, Cessna began using a 150-hp Lycoming engine rather than the old six-cylinder, air-cooled Continental engines of the original 172s. With the SP comes a further engine update providing an even higher maximum takeoff weight. With its fuel-injected, 180-hp Textron-Lycoming IO-360, the SP has 20 hp more than even a 172R and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,550 lbs-250 lbs more than the 172R.