The most common trainer in the world, modeled from its own POH. Practice weight and balance the way your examiner will ask it.
The most common training aircraft in the world. This calculator uses real C172S POH data — weight & balance, V-speeds, and density-altitude-corrected takeoff/landing performance. Use it to practice W&B for your checkride or to play with what-if scenarios.
Over 44,000 Cessna 172s have been built since 1956. The 172S is the modern production model with the Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine. The numbers below are pulled from the 2007+ 172S Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Normal takeoff rotation. Begin lift-off pull at this speed.
Maximum altitude gained per horizontal distance. Use for obstacle clearance on takeoff.
Maximum altitude gained per unit of time. Standard climb-out speed.
At max gross weight 2,550 lbs. Reduces to ~90 KIAS at 1,900 lbs. Below this speed, full control deflection won't structurally damage the airplane.
Maximum speed with flaps extended. For 10° flaps, VFE is 110; for 30°, it's 85 KIAS.
The top of the green arc. Do not exceed in turbulent or rough air.
The red line. Aircraft structural limit. Never exceed in any flight condition.
Full flaps, landing configuration, max gross weight. Bottom of the white arc.
Flaps up, power off, max gross weight. Bottom of the green arc.
Maximum glide distance with engine out. Trim to this immediately during emergency descent.
Enter weights (in pounds) for each station. Arms are from the C172S POH (datum: lower portion of the front face of the firewall). Fuel: 48 in. Pilot/copilot: 37 in. Rear passengers: 73 in. Baggage Area 1: 95 in (120 lb max). Baggage Area 2: 123 in (50 lb max) — combined baggage may not exceed 120 lb. Empty weight assumed: 1,680 lbs at 39.0 in (the POH standard empty weight is 1,663 lb; use the actual weight-and-balance record for your tail number). The chart shows the normal-category envelope (green) and the more restrictive utility-category envelope (dashed amber, max 2,200 lb, rear seat and baggage empty). The POH limits it draws: normal category, forward 35.0 in at 1,950 lb and below, a straight line to 41.0 in at 2,550 lb, aft 47.3 in at all weights; utility category, forward 35.0 in at 1,950 lb and below, a straight line to 40.5 in at 2,200 lb, aft 40.5 in.
Density-altitude-corrected ground roll estimates. Based on C172S POH performance tables at max gross weight (2,550 lbs), no wind, paved level dry runway. Move the sliders to see how altitude and temperature affect performance.
DA = PA + 120 × (OAT − ISA), where ISA temperature = 15 °C − 2 °C per 1,000 ft of pressure altitude; field elevation is used as pressure altitude (29.92 in Hg assumed).
Short-field technique, flaps 10°, 2,550 lb, paved, level, dry, no wind. POH notes: subtract 10% per 9 kt of headwind; add 10% per 2 kt of tailwind (to 10 kt); dry grass adds 15% of the ground roll.
Total horizontal distance to clear a 50 ft obstacle, same conditions.
Short-field technique, full flaps, maximum braking, same conditions (over 50 ft: 1,335 ft at sea level). Dry grass adds 45% of the ground roll.
Source: Cessna 172S Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section 1 (performance summary), Section 2 (limitations: V-speeds, weight and CG limits) and Section 5 (takeoff and landing charts and their notes). Values are for a standard 172S; confirm against the POH for your tail number. Last verified: September 27, 2026.