Cessna 152: specs, V-speeds and real costs
The Cessna 152 is a two-seat, high-wing trainer built from 1977 to 1985 with a 110-hp Lycoming O-235. Its POH gives a 107 KTAS cruise on 6.1 gallons per hour, stall speeds of 40 KIAS clean and 35 KIAS with full flaps, and a 12-knot demonstrated crosswind. US schools rent one for about $138 an hour wet.
Could you pass the PPL written today?
Free practice test from the real FAA question bank — instant score, every answer explained, no account needed.
107 KTAS
Cruise, 75% power
1979 POH
6.1 gal/hr
Fuel burn, 75% power
1979 POH
1,670 lb
Max takeoff weight
TCDS 3A19
$137.50/hr
Median rental, wet
6 US schools
Cessna 152 specifications
Limits come from the FAA type certificate data sheet and performance from the 1979 Pilot's Operating Handbook. The dimensions are marked as secondary because we could not read the POH's three-view drawing directly.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 33 ft 4 in (10.2 m)[SEC]Secondary source citing the 1978 POH. |
| Length | 24 ft 1 in (7.3 m)[SEC]Secondary source citing the 1978 POH. |
| Height | 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)[SEC]Secondary source citing the 1978 POH. |
| Wing area | 160 sq ft (14.9 m²)[SEC, POH]Secondary source; consistent with the POH's 10.5 lb/sq ft wing loading at 1,670 lb. |
| Seats | 2[TCDS] |
| Engine | |
| Engine | Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 hp[TCDS]1983 and later: O-235-N2C rated 108 hp. |
| Propeller | Two-blade, fixed pitch[POH] |
| Weights and fuel | |
| Max takeoff weight | 1,670 lb (757 kg)[TCDS, POH]Max ramp weight 1,675 lb from serial 15282032. |
| Empty weight / useful load | Varies by airplane[POH]Use the empty weight on your airplane's weight and balance record; useful load = 1,670 lb minus that. |
| Fuel capacity | 26 gal total, 24.5 gal usable[TCDS, POH]Optional long-range tanks: 39 gal total, 37.5 usable. |
| Baggage | 120 lb[TCDS] |
| CG range | 31.0 to 36.5 in aft of datum[TCDS]Forward limit 32.65 in at 1,670 lb. |
| Performance (1,670 lb, standard day) | |
| Max speed | 110 KTAS[POH]Sea level. |
| Cruise speed | 107 KTAS[POH]75% power at 8,000 ft. |
| Fuel burn | 6.1 gal/hr[POH]75% power at 8,000 ft. |
| Range at 75% power | 350 nm (long-range tanks: 580 nm)[POH]8,000 ft, 45-minute reserve. |
| Max range | 415 nm (long-range tanks: 690 nm)[POH]10,000 ft, economy power, 45-minute reserve. |
| Rate of climb | 715 ft/min[POH]Sea level. |
| Service ceiling | 14,700 ft[POH] |
| Takeoff distance | 725 ft ground roll / 1,340 ft over 50 ft[POH] |
| Landing distance | 475 ft ground roll / 1,200 ft over 50 ft[POH] |
| Max demonstrated crosswind | 12 kt[POH]Not 15 kt: that is the 172's figure. |
Sources
- [POH] Cessna 152 Pilot's Operating Handbook (1979 model; 1978 POH cross-checked), Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5
- [TCDS] FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 3A19, Rev. 50 (July 21, 2017)
- [SEC] Secondary: Wikipedia, "Cessna 152", citing the 1978 POH (dimensions and production totals)
Performance figures are for 1,670 lb, standard day, from the 1979 POH. A hot day or a high field lengthens the takeoff roll a lot in a 110-hp airplane: work out density altitude before you go.
Plan with your own numbers: the density altitude calculator and the fuel burn calculator take your field elevation and temperature.
Cessna 152 V-speeds
The arcs are drawn from the 1979 POH airspeed indicator markings. Two numbers that are often quoted wrong: the full-flap stall speed is 35 KIAS (43 is the calibrated value, KCAS), and the flap limit is a single 85 KIAS for every flap setting.
- White arc 35-85 KIASFlap operating range (Vs0 to Vfe, full flaps)
- Green arc 40-111 KIASNormal operating range (Vs1 to Vno)
- Yellow arc 111-149 KIASCaution range: smooth air only
- Red line 149 KIASVne, never exceed
- Vr (rotate)
- 50 KIAS
- Lift the nose wheel (normal takeoff)
- Vx
- 55 KIAS
- Best angle of climb, sea level to 10,000 ft
- Vy
- 67 KIAS
- Best rate of climb, sea level (61 at 10,000 ft)
- Best glide
- 60 KIAS
- Engine failure
- Va
- 104 KIAS
- Maneuvering, 1,670 lb (98 at 1,500, 93 at 1,350)
- Vfe
- 85 KIAS
- Any flap setting (30° max)
- Vno
- 111 KIAS
- Max structural cruising
- Vne
- 149 KIAS
- Never exceed
- Vs1
- 40 KIAS
- Stall, flaps up (48 KCAS)
- Vs0
- 35 KIAS
- Stall, flaps 30° (43 KCAS)
Sources
- [POH] Cessna 152 Pilot's Operating Handbook (1979 model; 1978 POH cross-checked), Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5
- [TCDS] FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 3A19, Rev. 50 (July 21, 2017)
Approach speeds from the same POH: 60-70 KIAS with flaps up, 55-65 KIAS with flaps 30°, and 54 KIAS for a short-field landing. Airspeed markings like these are standard private pilot written exam material.
Cessna 152 fuel burn and range
The POH gives 6.1 gallons per hour at 75% power at 8,000 ft, for 107 KTAS. With 24.5 usable gallons in the standard tanks that is 350 nm with a 45-minute reserve; at economy power and 10,000 ft the POH stretches it to 415 nm.
Airplanes with the optional long-range tanks (37.5 usable gallons) are listed at 580 nm at 75% power and 690 nm at economy power. Winds, climbs and taxi fuel cut those numbers in real life.
How much it costs to rent a Cessna 152
We read the published rate sheets of 30 US schools and flying clubs on October 3, 2026. Six listed a 152 with a wet rate; the median was $137.50 an hour.
| Cessna 152 | $137.50/hr medianRange $115-$168 wet across 6 US schools and clubs. |
|---|---|
| Cessna 172, round gauges (for comparison) | $165/hr medianRange $105-$215 wet, 15 operators. |
| Piper PA-28 Warrior (for comparison) | $155/hr medianRange $112.50-$215 wet, 5 operators. |
Aircraft only, US dollars per flight hour, from published rate sheets read October 3, 2026. “Wet” means the sheet says fuel is included. Some clubs bill tach time (10-15% fewer hours than Hobbs) and add monthly dues. Instructor time is billed on top: $50-$125 per hour on the same rate sheets, about $80 typical.
Schools and clubs in the sample
- Aces High Aviation (Long Beach, CA)
- CP Aviation (Santa Paula, CA)
- EFI Flight School (Murrieta, CA)
- Fly Goodyear (Goodyear, AZ)
- Mountain Peaks Aviation (Ogden, UT)
- Pilot Rise (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX)
- The Flight School Inc. (Spring, TX)
- Texas Flight Aviation (Spring, TX)
- Metro Flyers Club (Denton, TX)
- St. Charles Flying Service (St. Charles, MO)
- St. Pete Air (St. Petersburg, FL)
- Rexair (Naples, FL)
- All2fly (Georgia)
- MacAir (Fort Knox, KY)
- Doylestown Airport (Doylestown, PA)
- Moore Aviation (Beaver Falls, PA)
- East Hill Flying Club (Ithaca, NY)
- Jersey Aero Club (Lakewood, NJ)
- TSS Flying Club (Washington, DC area)
- Prescott Flying Club (South St. Paul, MN)
- Skyhawk Flying Club (Omaha, NE)
- Bergstrom Aircraft (Pasco, WA)
- Eastern Cincinnati Aviation (Batavia, OH)
- Capital City Aviation (Columbus, OH)
- Fly Synergy (Illinois)
- Performance Flight (Westchester, NY)
- American Flight Schools (Colorado and California)
- Hoosier Aviation (Terre Haute, IN)
Budgeting a whole certificate? See the private pilot license cost guide.
Weight and balance
The max takeoff weight is 1,670 lb. There is no single catalog useful load: subtract your airplane's empty weight (from its weight and balance record) from 1,670 lb. Full standard fuel, 24.5 usable gallons at 6 lb per gallon, weighs about 147 lb, and the baggage area takes up to 120 lb.
The CG range runs from 31.0 to 36.5 inches aft of the datum, with the forward limit at 32.65 inches at 1,670 lb. With two larger adults aboard, many 152s cannot also carry full tanks, so run the numbers for every flight.
Calculate your W&B: the Weight & Balance Calculator has Cessna 152 presets and plots your CG on the envelope.
History
| Year / model | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1959-77Cessna 150 | The two-seat trainer the 152 replaced, with a Continental O-200. |
| 1977152 (1978 model) | Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 hp, and a 1,670 lb max weight. Wichita serials start at 15279406 (FAA TCDS 3A19). |
| 1983O-235-N2C | Later airplanes get the O-235-N2C, rated 108 hp (TCDS 3A19). |
| 1985End of production | The last Wichita serial on the TCDS is 15286033: 6,628 airplanes. Aerobat (A152) and French-built Reims versions bring the total to about 7,584 (secondary source). |
Training in a Cessna 152
Cheapest hour on the ramp
A $137.50 median wet rate in our sample, $27.50 below a round-gauge 172, adds up over the 40+ hours a private certificate takes.
Slow, forgiving speeds
Stall at 40 KIAS clean and 35 KIAS with full flaps, approaches at 55-65 KIAS: time to think in the flare.
Simple systems
Fixed-pitch propeller, carbureted engine and one flap limit (85 KIAS) keep the cockpit uncluttered for a new pilot.
The limits are real
Two seats, 1,670 lb, 715 ft/min climb and a 12-knot demonstrated crosswind. Tall or heavy students and hot, high airports push the 152 hard.
New to all this? Start with how to become a pilot. When you are ready for the written, the PPL exam prep drills the same questions the FAA test asks.
Cost to buy a Cessna 152
Rough asking-price ranges seen in 2025-2026 listings, not appraisals. Engine time, avionics and damage history move a specific airplane far outside these bands; get a pre-buy inspection and a current price guide before you offer.
| Condition | Asking price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project / needs work | $12,000 - $20,000 | Run-out engine, overdue annual or corrosion: budget a lot more to make it airworthy. |
| Average condition | $25,000 - $40,000 | Mid-time engine, basic avionics, serviceable paint and interior. |
| Good condition | $40,000 - $55,000 | Lower-time engine, decent avionics, clean airframe. |
| Excellent / upgraded | $55,000 - $80,000 | Fresh engine and modern avionics. |
Owning one? At the POH's 6.1 gal/hr, fuel at $5.50-$7.00 a gallon is roughly $34-$43 per hour before oil, reserves, insurance, the annual and hangar or tiedown.
Common issues and maintenance
Nose gear shimmy
Usually a worn shimmy dampener or loose nose gear parts. Inexpensive to fix and not worth deferring.
Carburetor icing
The carbureted O-235 can ice in humid air even on warm days. Know the carb heat procedure in your POH and use it as published.
Exhaust system cracks
The muffler shroud supplies cabin heat, so a crack is a carbon monoxide risk. Inspect it at every annual and carry a CO detector.
Seat track AD (AD 2011-10-09)
A seat that slides aft on takeoff is dangerous. Make sure the seat locks and the pins engage before every flight.
Brake wear
Training use wears pads and discs quickly; check them at every inspection.
High-time airframes
Many 152s have spent decades at flight schools. Have an independent mechanic check corrosion, the wing structure and the logbooks for AD compliance before you buy.
Cessna 152 vs Cessna 172 vs Piper PA-28
The three airplanes most US students train in, with the same definitions for each number.
Side by side
Cessna 152 vs Cessna 172 vs Piper PA-28 Archer
1978-85, 110 hp
- Seats
- 2
- Max takeoff weight
- 1,670 lb
- Cruise speed
- 107 KTAS
- Usable fuel
- 24.5 gal
- Demo crosswind
- 12 kt
- Median rental, wet
- $137.50/hr
172S, 180 hp
- Seats
- 4
- Max takeoff weight
- 2,550 lb
- Cruise speed
- 124 KTAS
- Usable fuel
- 53 gal
- Demo crosswind
- 15 kt
- Median rental, wet
- $165/hr
Archer, 180 hp
- Seats
- 4
- Max takeoff weight
- 2,550 lb
- Cruise speed
- 128 KTAS*
- Usable fuel
- 48 gal
- Demo crosswind
- 17 kt
- Median rental, wet
- $160/hr
Sources
- [152] Cessna 152 POH (1979), Sections 1, 4 and 5; FAA TCDS 3A19 Rev. 50
- [172] Cessna 172S POH (172SPHUS-05, 2004); FAA TCDS 3A12 Rev. 84
- [PA28] Piper PA-28-181 Archer III POH (VB-1563), Sections 2 and 4; Piper 2026 Archer LX spec sheet
- [RATES] Published rate sheets of 30 US flight schools and flying clubs, read October 3, 2026
*Piper publishes 128 KTAS as the Archer LX maximum cruise speed; Cessna figures are 75% power at 8,000-8,500 ft. Rental medians: 6 (C152), 15 (C172) and 7 (Archer) US operators, wet rates.
Cessna 172
Pros: Four seats, 2,550 lb max weight, 15 kt demonstrated crosswind.
Cons: About $165/hr median to rent versus $137.50 for a 152.
Piper PA-28 Warrior
Pros: Four seats, low wing and wide gear stance.
Cons: Single door; rents for more than a 152 ($155 median in our sample).
Cessna 152 weight & balance, on your iPhone
Rotate E6B Flight Computer ships with a Cessna 152 profile: enter seats, fuel and baggage and it plots your CG inside the envelope, offline, with every step of the math shown. Swap the sample numbers for your airplane’s POH and weighing report. You are on a computer now, so we will send the App Store link to your email — open it on your phone.
One email with the link, nothing else. Or see it on the App Store. Free download. Wind triangle, crosswind, time/speed/distance, fuel and conversions are free for good; weight & balance, density altitude, TAS and the FAA practice set are a $9.99 one-time unlock. No subscription.
Gear for the Cessna 152
The kit that actually rides along in a Cessna 152 — picked from what trainers and owners already use.
Cessna 152 FAQ
What are the Cessna 152 V-speeds?
From the 1979 Cessna 152 POH: rotate 50 KIAS, Vx 55, Vy 67 at sea level, best glide 60, Va 104 at 1,670 lb (98 at 1,500 lb, 93 at 1,350 lb), Vfe 85 for any flap setting, Vno 111, Vne 149, and stall speeds of 40 KIAS clean and 35 KIAS with 30° of flap. The airspeed indicator arcs are white 35-85, green 40-111 and yellow 111-149, with the red line at 149.
How much fuel does a Cessna 152 burn per hour?
The POH gives 6.1 gallons per hour at 75% power at 8,000 ft, for a 107-knot true airspeed. Usable fuel is 24.5 gallons in the standard tanks and 37.5 with the optional long-range tanks.
How much does it cost to rent a Cessna 152?
On the published rate sheets we read on October 3, 2026, a Cessna 152 rented for $115 to $168 an hour wet, with a median of $137.50 across six US schools and clubs. A flight instructor is billed on top, $50 to $125 an hour on the same sheets.
How fast does a Cessna 152 fly?
The POH lists a maximum speed of 110 KTAS at sea level and a cruise of 107 KTAS at 75% power and 8,000 ft. The never-exceed speed is 149 KIAS and the top of the green arc (Vno) is 111 KIAS.
How far can a Cessna 152 fly?
With standard tanks the POH gives 350 nautical miles at 75% power and 8,000 ft, and 415 nm at economy power at 10,000 ft, both with a 45-minute reserve and no wind. With long-range tanks the figures are 580 nm and 690 nm.
What is the useful load of a Cessna 152?
It depends on the airplane: useful load is the 1,670 lb max takeoff weight minus that airplane's empty weight, which is on its weight and balance record. Full standard fuel (24.5 usable gallons) weighs about 147 lb, so two larger adults often mean less than full tanks. Run the numbers before every flight.
What is the max crosswind for a Cessna 152?
The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity in the Cessna 152 POH is 12 knots. It is the highest value tested in certification, not a structural limit; the often-quoted 15 knots belongs to the Cessna 172.
What is the stall speed of a Cessna 152?
At 1,670 lb and forward CG the POH lists 40 KIAS (48 KCAS) with flaps up and 35 KIAS (43 KCAS) with flaps 30°, wings level. Those are the bottoms of the green and white arcs. Stall speed rises in a bank.
How many Cessna 152s were built?
The Wichita serial range on FAA type certificate data sheet 3A19 (15279406 to 15286033) covers 6,628 airplanes built from 1977 to 1985. Secondary sources put the total at 7,584 when the A152 Aerobat and the French-built Reims F152 and FA152 are included.
Cessna 152 vs Cessna 172: which is better for training?
The 152 is cheaper to rent ($137.50 vs $165 median in our sample) and burns about 6 gallons an hour, but it seats two and has a 1,670 lb max weight and a 12-knot demonstrated crosswind. The 172 seats four, weighs up to 2,550 lb and was demonstrated to 15 knots. Students who are tall or heavy, or who want to carry passengers after the checkride, are usually happier in a 172.
Compare the aircraft guides
Same format in every guide: spec tables with their sources, V-speeds from the POH and rental costs measured on real rate sheets.
Cessna 152 You are here
2 seats · high wing · fixed gear · 110 hp
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
4 seats · high wing · fixed gear · 180 hp (172S)
Piper PA-28 Cherokee
4 seats · low wing · fixed gear · 140-180 hp
Cessna 182 Skylane
4 seats · high wing · fixed gear · 230 hp (182T)
Mooney M20
4 seats · low wing · retractable gear
Cirrus SR22
Low wing · fixed gear · 310 hp · airframe parachute (CAPS)
Beechcraft Bonanza
6 seats (G36) · low wing · retractable gear · 300 hp
Garmin G1000
Glass cockpit: PFD, MFD and the knobs that run them
Ready to Ace Your Written Exam?
Whether you are training in a Cessna 152, 172, or PA-28, you need to pass the FAA written exam. Rotate gives you 3,500+ practice questions, detailed explanations, flashcards, and progress tracking. Start for $7.49 the first month, then $14.99/mo.