How to Take off in a Cessna 172

This is an article on how to take off in a Cessna 172.

Steps

  1. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 1
    1
    Line up with the runway. As you do so, ensure that the Directional Gyro matches the runway heading (Correction for the wind if there is crosswind).[1]
  2. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 2
    2
    Advance the throttle in about 3 seconds time all the way to full. (Check your mixture rich.[2] )
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  3. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 3
    3
    As soon as plane starts moving, perform this visual check:
    • Oil Pressure in Green
    • Oil Temperature in Green
  4. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 4
    4
    Call out "Power available" (minimum 2300 RPM) and "Airspeed alive" when your Airspeed Indicator comes alive. This should occur somewhere around 35 KIAS (Knots Indicated Airspeed).[3]
  5. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 5
    5
    Pull back slowly on the yoke when 55 KIAS is reached. Rotate at 60 KIAS.
  6. Image titled Take off in a Cessna 172 Step 6
    6
    Lower your nose once off the ground for the best rate of climb speed (75 KIAS).[4]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is it normal to feel chatter in the nose wheel when building up speed on the runway?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. Some aircraft do it more than others, just keep a little back pressure on the yoke as if doing a short field takeoff and it will go away.
  • Question
    Should the flaps be set the same for takeoff and landing?
    Philip Bundy
    Philip Bundy
    Community Answer
    No. Flaps should not be used on takeoff except for short field takeoffs. Flaps are used when landing, but as always, there are exceptions to the rules. In heavy winds, only partial flaps are used. If you happen to get iced over, you should land with no flaps.
  • Question
    Why should the speed be at 60 knots?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    60 knots is considered to be the optimum takeoff speed. This speed will allow enough lift under the wings to give a smooth, stall-free takeoff.
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Warnings

  • Under no circumstances should you fly near the stall speed of 35KTIS. This is with a dirty configuration. The stall speed is higher in a clean configuration. (Dirty = flaps down, clean = no flaps)
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUxBxDUGCk
  2. ↑ https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/june/flight-training/how-it-works
  3. ↑ https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/march/flight-training-magazine/12-tips-to-help-you-fly-like-the-pros
  4. ↑ https://takewingaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/N739EF_172N_POH.pdf
  5. https://web.cs.wpi.edu/~rich/courses/cs525u-s08/projects/mtavares/Cessna172.pdf

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 100,375 times.
129 votes - 93%
Co-authors: 15
Updated: October 21, 2021
Views: 100,375
Categories: Aviation
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