This 1979 Cessna 172K Floatplane Is an Adventure-Seeking ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Cessna R172K Skyhawk.

When pilots talk about using aircraft to pursue adventures, floatplanes often find their way into the conversation. A desire to explore remote airports—and perhaps the occasional grass strip—tends to expand to include landing modified STOL airplanes on hillsides, gravel bars, and beaches. But why land on the shore if you can land in the water?

The Cessna for sale here appeals to me because I learned to fly in 172s and do not often see them on floats and subsequently on the market. While a fully kitted-out de Havilland Beaver is the stuff of flying fantasies, a 172 is a more reasonable goal for many of us. I can think of a few shores where I would love to beach this one. 

This Cessna 172K has 2,953 hours on the airframe and 1,342 hours since overhaul on its Continental IO-360 engine, which, rated at 200 hp, is a significant upgrade over engines in stock 172s. The aircraft comes with standard landing gear, so it can be converted between land and water use. Its useful load is 600 pounds with floats and 930 pounds with landing gear.

The panel includes a Garmin 430 GPS/nav/com, Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B transponder, Garmin Aera portable GPS, Horizon Aircraft digital tachometer, JPI 450 fuel flow meter, and JPI EDM 700 engine monitor.

Pilots who want to train for a seaplane rating and build time on the water, or those already rated who wish to add a floatplane to their fleet, should take a look at this 1979 Cessna 172K, which is available for $250,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.