Cessna 177 Cardinal Rg

Single Piston· 798 globally registered

The Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG is a four-seat, single-engine retractable-gear aircraft produced by Cessna from 1971 to 1978. It represents the high-performance variant of the Cardinal family, distinguished by its hydraulically actuated landing gear, constant-speed propeller, and 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360 engine. The Cardinal series was Cessna's attempt to modernize the light single-engine market with a cantilever wing, streamlined fuselage, and improved cabin access through a single-piece sliding canopy and rear-hinged doors, a significant departure from the strut-braced Cessna 172. The RG variant offered genuine cross-country capability with a cruise speed around 140 knots and useful load approaching 1,000 pounds, making it competitive with the Piper Arrow and Beechcraft Sierra. Its wide cabin, excellent visibility, and stable handling made it popular among pilots seeking a step-up aircraft for instrument training and personal travel. The Cardinal's laminar-flow wing and clean aerodynamics delivered efficiency, though the type never achieved the commercial success of the ubiquitous 172, with only about 1,500 RGs built during its seven-year production run. Today the 177RG remains a respected platform in the general aviation fleet, valued for its combination of speed, comfort, and relatively benign handling characteristics. It occupies a sweet spot between basic trainers and complex high-performance singles, offering retractable-gear experience without the maintenance burden of larger twins. SkyMeter has tracked 393 flights across 160 airframes and 152 operators, with KC AVIATION LLC the largest observed operator.