Cessna 172S Skyhawk, Civil Air Patrol, Norman, OK

The Oklahoma Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Wing headquarters are located at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Wing consists of over 650 cadet and adult members at over 17 locations across the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma CAP operates the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a four-seat, single engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company. First flown in 1955, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft. As of 2015, Cessna, and its partners, had built more than 43,000. A Cessna 172 was used in 1958 to set the world record for flight endurance; the record still stands. The basic 172 appeared in November 1955 as the 1956 model and remained in production until replaced by the 172A in early 1960. The 1960 model 172A introduced a swept-back tailfin and rudder, as well as float fittings. The 172P, or Skyhawk P, was introduced in 1981 to solve the reliability problems of the "N" engine. Production of the "P" ended in 1986, and no more 172s were built for eleven years as legal liability rulings in the US had pushed Cessna's insurance costs too high, resulting in dramatically increasing prices for new aircraft. Measured by its longevity and popularity, the Cessna 172 is the most successful aircraft in history. Nationwide, the CAP operates a fleet of over 550 aircraft including the Cessna 182, 206, and the Gippsland GA-8. The Oklahoma Wing performs the three primary missions of the Civil Air Patrol: providing emergency services; offering cadet programs for youth; and providing aerospace education for both CAP members and the general public. See more.