Cessna 177 Cardinal Series for Sale — The Elegant Alternative to the Skyhawk
The Cessna 177 Cardinal was Cessna's bold attempt to replace the Skyhawk with a more modern, aerodynamically refined design — and while it ultimately failed in that marketing mission (the Skyhawk proved too beloved to displace), it succeeded brilliantly as an aircraft in its own right. The Cardinal's cantilever wing — requiring no struts for support — gives it a dramatically cleaner appearance than any strut-braced Cessna, and the absence of a door post between the front and rear seats creates an open, airy cabin with visibility and spaciousness that the 172 cannot match. For pilots who appreciate the Cardinal's distinctive character, there is no substitute.
Cardinal Variants
- 177 (1968) — Original production with fixed pitch propeller and O-320 engine; considered underpowered, quickly improved
- 177A (1969) — Revised O-320 installation with better performance, fixed gear
- 177B (1970–1978) — The definitive fixed-gear Cardinal, Lycoming O-360-A1F6D at 180 hp — the most popular 177 variant
- 177RG Cardinal RG (1971–1978) — Retractable gear version with Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D at 200 hp, providing meaningful cruise speed advantage and complex aircraft qualification value
Find Your Cessna 177 Cardinal on Airplane Trade
Browse Cessna 177, 177A, 177B, and 177RG Cardinal aircraft for sale on Airplane Trade from verified sellers worldwide. Cantilever-wing elegance with 180-200 hp Lycoming power — find the Cardinal variant that suits your mission and budget on Airplane Trade today.