Flight Operations

Primary Flight Controls

AILERON

Ailerons move the airplane around its roll axis. The angle of roll is called the bank angle.

ELEVATOR 

The Elevator moves the airplane around its pitch axis.

RUDDER

The rudder moves the airplane around its yaw axis.

Secondary Flight Controls

TRIM

The primary purpose of trim is to alleviate control pressures

There are two different kinds: elevator/pitch trim and rudder trim. 

FLAPS

Flaps increase the camber of the wing in order to provide more lift and lower the stall speed.

Electrically powered slotted flaps with settings of 10°, 20°, and FULL.

Landing Gear/Brakes

• Tricycle-Type

• Nose wheel steerable via the rudder pedals.

• Shock absorption is provided via steel springs in the main landing gear struts and an air/oil (nitrogen) strut in the nose gear. 

• C172S is equipped with a single-disc hydraulic brake system.

Power Plant

Lycoming Textron IO-360-L2A

• 180 BHP at 2,700 RPM. 

  • 3-8% power loss per 1,000

• Air-cooled externally by air that enters the cowling via the air intakes.

• Air is directed to the rear of the engine via cooling fins. 

• NATURALLY ASPIRATED

• DIRECT DRIVE

  • Pistons that power the engine are directly connected to the crankshaft, which is connected to the propellor.

  
  

Starting System

• Electrical power for starting is supplied by the battery. Power will not be drawn till the starter switch is turned to the “START” position.

• When set to the “START” position, power is supplied to the starter motor, which uses a small geared ring to spin the flywheel, actuating the motion of the crankshaft and thus the propellor.

Propellor

• Two-blade

• Fixed pitch

• Forged Aluminum Alloy

• 76”

Fuel System

The C172 features a gravity-fed fuel system.

• 56g total fuel, 53g usable.

  • Tabs: 38g total, 35 usable

• Fuel Drains: 13 (5 on each wing, 3 under engine cowling)

• Fuel Vents: 1 on left wing that interconnects both tanks, both fuel caps

Electrical System

The C172 is equipped with 28-volt electrical system.

• 60-amp alternator provides voltage when the engine is running.

• 24-volt main battery stores energy for starting the engine.

  • Normal steady-state discharge should be -4.0 amps. 

• 24-volt standby battery

  • Supplies power to the ESS BUS in the event of an alternator and main battery failure. 

  • It provides power for ~30 minutes. 

  • “STBY BATT” annunciator will come on when discharge rates are >0.5 amps for >10 seconds.