Cessna 172 Straight-Tail weight and balance and performance calculator
Calculate the weight and balance of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail online: enter people, baggage and fuel and get the takeoff mass, the CG and whether both are within the limits of the POH – plus the takeoff and landing distance for your airfield, temperature and wind. Free, no sign-up. The Cessna 172 Straight-Tail is a model of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk; built 1956–1959.
* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C, no wind – BriefingPal result from the POH data
Calculate the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail weight, CG and takeoff distance
Your own empty mass (weighing report, optional)
The POH has no standard empty moment for this model – enter the empty mass CG from your weighing report to get the CG.
Leave empty to use the typical POH empty mass. Your aircraft's weighing report is what counts.
Calculated on the BriefingPal server from the POH data. Nothing is stored, no cookie. Planning aid only – the POH/AFM and your weighing report are authoritative.
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail key figures
| Maximum takeoff mass (MTOW) | 998 kg (2,200 lb) |
|---|---|
| Typical empty mass (POH sample) | 585 kg (1,290 lb) |
| Usable fuel | 37 US gal (140 L) |
| Fuel type | AVGAS |
| Useful load with full fuel | 312 kg (688 lb) |
| Maximum baggage | 54 kg (120 lb) |
| Demonstrated crosswind | 15 kt |
| Best rate of climb speed Vy | 65 KIAS |
| Service ceiling | 13,317 ft |
| Built | 1956–1959 |
| Loading stations | front seats, rear seats, baggage compartment, fuel |
Empty mass and useful load depend on your aircraft – its weighing report applies.
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail takeoff and landing distance
BriefingPal result from the POH charts at MTOW, no wind, dry paved runway, normal procedure, default flap setting, without safety factor. Use the calculator above for your mass, airfield, temperature and wind.
| Conditions | Takeoff ground roll | Takeoff over 50 ft | Landing over 50 ft | Landing ground roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea level, 15 °C | 220 m (730 ft) | 505 m (1,650 ft) | 340 m (1,110 ft) | 205 m (680 ft) |
| 5,000 ft, 25 °C (density altitude ≈ 7,300 ft) | 375 m (1,240 ft) | 855 m (2,810 ft) | – | – |
Hot and high, the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail needs about 70 % more distance to clear 50 ft than at sea level. Calculate density altitude →
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail climb and cruise
| Rate of climb at sea level | Time / fuel to 6,500 ft | Cruise TAS at 6,500 ft | Fuel flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 660 fpm | 13 min / 1.6 US gal | 97 kt | 7.4 US gal/h (28 L/h) |
MTOW, ISA, default power setting of the POH cruise table (≈58 % power).
How to do the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail weight and balance
- Enter the loadingWeights of pilot, passengers and baggage per station, fuel in litres or US gallons. Each station limit and the MTOW are checked.
- Use your own empty massOptional: enter empty mass and empty CG from the weighing report of your Cessna 172 Straight-Tail. Without it the typical POH empty mass is used.
- Check CG and massThe traffic light shows whether the takeoff mass and the CG with and without fuel lie within the envelope of the POH.
- Takeoff and landingElevation, QNH, temperature, wind and runway give the takeoff and landing distance – compared with the runway length if you enter it.
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail compared with the other Cessna 172 models
| Model | MTOW | Usable fuel | Takeoff over 50 ft* | Cruise TAS* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172M | 1,043 kg | 38 US gal | 465 m | 110 kt |
| Cessna 172N | 1,043 kg | 40 US gal | 440 m | 115 kt |
| Cessna 172P | 1,089 kg | 40 US gal | 495 m | 113 kt |
| Cessna 172S / SP | 1,157 kg | 53 US gal | 500 m | 114 kt |
| Cessna 172 Straight-Tail | 998 kg | 37 US gal | 505 m | 97 kt |
| Cessna 172R Skyhawk | 1,111 kg | 53 US gal | 515 m | 114 kt |
| Cessna R172K Hawk XP | 1,157 kg | 49 US gal | 415 m | 130 kt |
| Cessna F172N/P Thielert-Diesel | 1,089 kg | 33.6 US gal | 535 m | 109 kt |
| Cessna 172 / 172A | 998 kg | 37 US gal | 425 m | 106 kt |
| Cessna 172B | 998 kg | 39 US gal | 425 m | 108 kt |
| Cessna 172K | 1,043 kg | 38 US gal | 475 m | 105 kt |
| Cessna 172L | 1,043 kg | 38 US gal | 475 m | 105 kt |
* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C / 6,500 ft, ISA – BriefingPal result from the POH data.
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail – frequently asked questions
What is the MTOW of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail?
The maximum takeoff mass of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail is 998 kg (2,200 lb) according to the POH.
How much usable fuel does the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail carry?
37 US gal (140 L) usable. With the typical POH empty mass and full fuel, about 312 kg (688 lb) remain for people and baggage.
How long is the takeoff distance of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail?
At MTOW, sea level, 15 °C and no wind the ground roll is about 220 m (730 ft) and the distance over 50 ft about 505 m (1,650 ft). At 5,000 ft and 25 °C it grows to about 855 m (2,810 ft). The calculator above gives the value for your conditions.
How do I calculate the CG of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail?
Multiply each mass by its arm, add up the moments and divide by the total mass – the calculator above does this with the stations of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail POH (front seats, rear seats, baggage compartment, fuel) and checks the CG against the envelope.
How does the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail differ from other Cessna 172 models?
BriefingPal has 12 Cessna 172 models on file. Compared with them the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail has the lowest MTOW (998 kg (2,200 lb)), 37 US gal (140 L) usable fuel and a takeoff distance over 50 ft of 505 m (1,650 ft) at MTOW.
Is the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail weight and balance calculator free?
Yes. The calculator on this page and the BriefingPal app are free and need no account. The app adds route planning, weather, NOTAM, fuel planning and a briefing PDF.
Data source
All figures come from the Pilot's Operating Handbook / Airplane Flight Manual of the Cessna 172 Straight-Tail (weight and balance and performance sections) and are computed with the BriefingPal engine – the same calculation as in the app. Planning aid only; the original POH/AFM and the weighing report of your aircraft remain authoritative.
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