Ever wondered why a humble high-wing trainer outsells every other aircraft in history and still reigns supreme over modern flight decks? Beneath that unassuming aluminum skin lies a design so simple ...

The Cessna 172 is one of the most iconic planes in aviation history. This four-seat, single-engine plane was introduced in 1956 and has become the go-to for recreational pilots around the world.

Fine choice, but the right one? After all, there was another aircraft that also first flew in 1955, Cessna’s Model 172 Skyhawk, a Mach 0.17 (125 mph) performer versus Crusader’s Mach 1.2. And ...

In 1956, Cessna started building the 172 training plane - and more than 60 years on, it’s still in production. Why has it been so popular? It can seat four people, in a squeeze, and weighs a ...