The Cessna Cardinal was designed to replace the Cessna Skyhawk, which was already a popular training aircraft. So what went wrong and what happened to the Cessna Cardinal?

A look at the Skyhawk

The Cessna Skyhawk, also known as the Cessna 172, is a four-seat high-wing aircraft with tricycle landing gear. It was first flown on June 12, 1955, and entered the aircraft market in 1956. It was derived from the Cessna 170 but a new Continental O-300-A engine was added along with larger elevators, the tricycle landing gear and an angled tail fin. It was originally added to the 170 type certificate, saving time and money but later gained its own certification outright.

Changes and modifications

The aircraft became an overnight success in the first year alone; 1,400 of the Cessna 172 were produced. Between its introduction up until 1960, 3,757 were built. Modifications were continually made over the years with slightly different variants. The landing gear was revised in 1960 and the aircraft featured a swept-back tail fin, the basic design remaining the same today.

In 1963, a lower rear deck and rear window were added and named 'Omni-Vision' to improve the pilots' visibility. Newer engines were added over the years with increasing horsepower, although the basic design stayed the same. Constant-speed propellers could also be an additional touch. Additional fuel tanks could be added in the wing tips. Over its production, there were more than 20 variants of the aircraft.

Aircraft specifications (172R)

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three passengers
• Length: 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
• Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
• Wing area: 174 sq ft (16.2 m2)
• Airfoil: modified NACA 2412
• Empty weight: 1,691 lb (767 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360-L2A four cylinder, horizontally opposed aircraft engine, 160 hp (120 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed metal, fixed pitch

Performance

• Cruise speed: 122 kn (140 mph, 226 km/h)
• Stall speed: 47 kn (54 mph, 87 km/h) (power off, flaps down)
• Range: 696 NM (801 mi, 1,289 km) with 45-minute reserve, 55% power, at 12,000 feet (3,700 m)
• Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,100 m)
• Rate of climb: 721 ft/min (3.66 m/s)
• Wing loading: 14.1 lb/sq ft (68.6 kg/m2)

Avionics

• Optional Garmin G1000 primary flight display

The success of the Skyhawk

Since its humble beginnings and first flight in 1955, the Cessna Skyhawk has been built more than any other aircraft type. The aircraft is still in production today and over 44,000 have been built. Most well known as a pilot training aircraft, it is the most successful aircraft in history despite a 10-year break in production between 1986 and 1996. The light general aviation aircraft's only competitors today are the Diamond DA40 Star, the Piper PA-28 Cherokee and the Cirrus SR20.

Why the Cessna Cardinal?

In 1968, Cessna decided they wanted to replace the Skyhawk and worked on model 172J, a new modified version of the 172, which had gone through modification models A to I. The new model had the same configuration but with a sloping windshield and a strutless cantilever wing. The interior was improved and small improvements were made. Only one prototype was made.

Program canceled

However, the Cessna Skyhawk was very popular with aircraft dealers and flight schools alike and the marketing division at Cessna were resistant to replacing the aircraft. The replacement program was then canceled. The model 172J was renamed the 177 and sold alongside the 172 instead of replacing it.

A look at the Cardinal

The aircraft was announced in 1967 and first flew in 1966. It was supposed to be a futuristic successor for the 1970s to the 172. The aircraft had newer technology; a cantilever wing, a new laminar flow airfoil and newer 150 horsepower engines. The deluxe version of the 177 was introduced and renamed the Cessna Cardinal. It had interior and avionics upgrades fitted as standard. There were four variants of the Cardinal, including one with retractable landing gear.

Aircraft Specifications 177B model

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
• Height: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
• Wing area: 174 sq ft (16.2 m2)
• Empty weight: 1,495 lb (678 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360-A1F6D air-cooled flat-4 engine, 180 hp (130 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 136 kn (157 mph, 252 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 124 kn (143 mph, 230 km/h)
• Range: 604 NM (695 mi, 1,119 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,600 ft (4,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 840 ft/min (4.3 m/s)

Design flaws?

The design was supposed to allow for pilots to have an unobstructed view when making turns. The pilots were placed just forward of the wing, which affected the aircraft's center of gravity. The lighter Lycoming O-320 engines counteracted this, so a stabilator was fitted to provide better elevator control at low air speeds. There were also reports after the first few deliveries of pilot-induced oscillations. Cessna applied Operation Cardinal Rule at no extra cost to provide inspection, installation, and modification advice to owners.

Although originally built to replace the Cessna Skyhawk, the Cardinal was never going to be as successful as the Skyhawk. Although it had better visibility than the Skyhawk, pilots didn't like that the Cardinal didn't fly like the Skyhawk. The Cessna Cardinal was produced over ten years, and just 4,295 were built. In turn, the Cessna Skyhawk is still produced today.