Photograph:
Cessna 177 Cardinal RG VH-RKH (c/n 177RG1079) at Bankstown, NSW in June 1979 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light touring cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.82 m (35 ft 6 in)
- Length: 8.31 m (27 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 16.07 m² (173 sq ft)
- Max speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Cruising speed: 274 km/h (170 mph)
- Stalling speed: 92 km/h (57 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 282 m/min (925 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,212 m (17,10 ft)
- Normal range: 1,324 km (823 miles)
- Max range: 1,658 km (1,030 miles)
- Empty weight: 502 kg (1,106 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,274 kg (2,809 lb)
History:
The Cessna 177 Cardinal RG was introduced into the Cessna range in 1970 and was basically a variant of the 177 series with a hydraulically retractable tricycle undercarriage. With a fully cantilever wing, the RG model could cruise at 275 km/h (171 mph) using 30 litres (6.6 Imp gals) per hour at 2,896 m (9,500 ft).
Following its introduction, a number of improvements were made, including a modified propeller which increased airspeed by 10 km/h (6 mph), and the removal of the footstep under the cabin door. The undercarriage was retracted through an electrically-powered hydraulic pump in a self-contained hydraulic system. When the undercarriage was retracted, the main gear was flush with the fuselage, with no wheel doors being used. The nose wheel was faired by wheel doors.
Following its introduction the Cardinal RG only differed slightly from year to year. It was produced in three basic versions: the Cardinal RG, the Cardinal RGII, and the Cardinal RGII with a ‘Nav Pac’ (navigation equipment). Production of the Cardinal RG ceased in 1978 after 1,490 had been built in the United States and 176 in France by Reims Aviation.