The Cessna 172RG Cutlass is the retractable-gear version of the Skyhawk — a popular complex trainer and an efficient traveler that adds retractable gear and a constant-speed prop to the familiar 172 airframe.
Key takeaways
- Complex trainer: retractable gear and constant-speed prop.
- Efficient traveler a bit faster than a standard 172.
- Retractable gear adds inspection points and insurance.
About the Cessna 172RG Cutlass
The 172RG pairs the Skyhawk airframe with retractable gear and a 180-hp Lycoming, cruising a bit faster than a fixed-gear 172. It's widely used for complex and commercial training. Gear system condition is a key inspection and value item.
| Specification | Cessna 172RG Cutlass |
|---|---|
| Type | Complex single (4-seat, retractable) |
| Engine | Lycoming O-360 (~180 hp) |
| Cruise | ~130 knots |
Typical used price (2026): ~$70,000–$140,000. Condition, avionics, and engine time drive value within that range.
Is the Cessna 172RG Cutlass Right for You?
The Cessna 172RG Cutlass suits owners who want speed and capability in a single, and who are ready for the training, insurance, and cost that higher performance brings. It rewards a proficient, current pilot. If you're newer, plan for transition training — it helps both safety and insurance.
Ownership & Operating Costs
- Fuel: higher — a bigger engine burns more.
- Insurance: performance-priced; transition training and time-in-type matter.
- Systems: budget for retractable gear, turbo, or other complexity if fitted.
- Engine reserve: set aside per flight hour toward overhaul.
For a full framework across models, see our aircraft ownership cost guide.
What to Check When Buying
Check engine time, the retractable gear and/or turbo systems if fitted, avionics, damage history, and complete logs. On a higher-performance single, a type-experienced pre-buy and a realistic insurance/training plan matter as much as the airframe.
Financing a Cessna 172RG Cutlass
A Cessna 172RG Cutlass finances as a piston single (15–20% down, up to 20 years), but as a higher-performance airplane, insurance and transition training carry extra weight and must be arranged before funding. Jaken Aviation is a brokerage, not a lender — we shop your loan across a national network of aviation lenders.
Prices, specifications, and financing figures are illustrative for the 2026 market and are not offers of credit. Jaken Aviation is a licensed aircraft financing brokerage — a division of Jaken Finance Group — and does not make loan decisions. All financing is subject to lender approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cessna 172RG Cutlass hard to insure?
As a higher-performance single, it's priced on your time-in-type and training. A transition-training plan helps both premiums and safety; coverage must bind before a lender funds.
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