AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2015 - 68

SPEC SHEET

Cessna 172R Diesel
PRICE AS TESTED: $259,000
SPECIFICATIONS

Powerplant | Continental CD-135
turbo diesel, 135 hp
Recommended time between
replacement, | 1,500 hr
Propeller | 3-blade constant speed
73.6-in dia MT Propeller, composite
Length | 26 ft 11 in
Height | 8 ft 11 in
Wingspan | 36 ft 1 in
Wing area | 174 sq ft
Wing loading | 14.1 lb/sq ft
Power loading | 18.1 lb/hp
Seats | 4
Cabin width | 3 ft 4 in
Cabin height | 4 ft
Empty weight | 1,819 lb
Useful load | 631 lb
Payload w/full fuel | 332 lb
Max takeoff weight | 2,450 lb
Max landing weight | 2,450 lb
Fuel capacity | 47.6 gal (44.6 gal usable)
319 lb (299 lb usable)
PERFORMANCE

Takeoff distance, ground roll | 919 ft
Takeoff distance over 50-ft obstacle |
1,775 ft
Max demonstrated crosswind component
| 15 kt
Rate of climb, sea level | 595 fpm
Cruise speed/endurance w/45-min rsv, std
fuel (fuel consumption) 6,000 feet
@ 75% power | 104 kt/7.3 hr
(37 pph/5.5 gph)
@ 65% power | 97 kt/8.5 hr
(32 pph/4.8 gph)

conventional Cessna 172. To start, turn
on the electric fuel pump, yell "Clear,"
turn on the engine master switch, wait
until computers have finished a glow-plug
sequence, and push the Start button. Glow
plugs warm the cylinders before starting
the engine and the computers-a main
computer and a backup-control that process, shutting off the glow-plug light on the
instrument panel to signal that the engine
can be started.
Computers take over from there, even
adjusting the pitch of the blades on the
68 | AOPA PILOT February 2015

Max operating altitude | 17,500 ft
Landing distance over 50-ft obstacle |
1,335 ft
Landing distance, ground roll | 575 ft

LIMITING AND RECOMMENDED AIRSPEEDS

VX (best angle of climb) | 60 KIAS
VY (best rate of climb) | 79 KIAS
VA (design maneuvering) | 99 KIAS
VFE (max flap extended) | 110 KIAS
VNO (max structural cruising) | 129 KIAS
VNE (never exceed) | 163 KIAS
VR (rotation) | 51 KIAS
VS1 (stall, clean) | 44 KIAS
VSO (stall, in landing configuration) |
33 KIAS
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Premier Aircraft, 5544 NW 23rd
Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309;
phone 800-903-8402 or 954-771-0411;
www.flypas.com.
All performance figures are based on
standard day, standard atmosphere, sea
level, gross weight conditions unless
otherwise noted.

EXTRA

Payload (with full fuel) is 100 to 120
pounds less than a gas-powered Cessna
172R but it burns three to four fewer
gallons per hour.

MT propeller and determining the fuel/air
mixture. The pilot's job is to move one lever
forward to speed up and backward to slow
down. There's no mixture control and no
propeller control.
In flight, the task of monitoring the
engine's health, and that of other systems,
is equally simple. There are two or three
indicators to monitor, including two computer readouts from the full authority
digital engine control (FADEC) system. If
there are green lights in those locations, fly
on. If the aircraft's alternator fails, battery

power is the only thing keeping the computers, and thus the engine, going. The pilot
operating handbook warns that if the main
battery and alternator were to fail "simultaneously," the engine will operate for only 30
minutes on FADEC backup battery power.
Company officials say you have more than
two hours of main battery power if only the
alternator fails. That time can be increased
by turning off all electrical devices.
A diesel engine uses compression ignition to keep going. Air is compressed in
the combustion chamber without fuel. As
http://www.flypas.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2015

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