Cessna 172 N2374U
Performance data

Take-off performance data

The following table gives take-off distances (in feet), with flaps up on a hard runway. The figures include an extra 10% allowance required by a FAA change sheet inserted into the POH.

Density altitude
Sea level @ 59°F 15°C 2500ft @ 50°F 10°C 5000ft @ 41°F 5°C 7500ft @ 32°F 0°C
Gross
weight
(lb)		 IAS
at
50ft		 Head
wind
(mph)		 Ground
run		 To clear
50ft
obstacle		 Ground
run		 To clear
50ft
obstacle		 Ground
run		 To clear
50ft
obstacle		 Ground
run		 To clear
50ft
obstacle
1700 60 0 435 780 520 920 625 1095 765 1370
10 290 570 355 680 430 820 535 1040
20 175 385 215 470 270 575 345 745
2000 65 0 630 1095 755 1325 905 1625 1120 2155
10 435 820 530 1005 645 1250 810 1685
20 275 580 340 720 425 910 595 1255
2300 70 0 865 1525 1040 1910 1255 2480 1565 3855
10 615 1170 750 1485 920 1955 1160 3110
20 405 850 505 1100 630 1480 810 2425
Return to top of page

Take-off distance calculator

The calculator below performs take-off distance calculations using the data from the table above. It works by calculating the density altitude (using the pressure, temperature, dew-point and airfield elevation), then interpolating between the data points in the table. The answer it gives is the Take-off Distance Required (TODR) - i.e. the distance needed to reach a height of 50 feet.

Take-off distance calculator
Aircraft gross weight (lb):
Airfield elevation (feet):
Pressure (inch): above sea level
above airfield
Temperature (°C):
Dew point (°C):
Headwind (knots):
Runway surface:
Runway slope (%):
Density altitude (feet):
Take-off distance TODR (ft.):
 

Important safety note: I use this calculator for doing take-off performance calculations before flying N2374U, but you should be aware that this calculator is specific to that particular aircraft. The answers it gives are not applicable to any other aircraft (not even other C172's). You must use the data taken from the POH of your particular aircraft.

Return to top of page

Cruise performance

The table below gives performance figures for various cruise power settings at a range of different altitudes. The numbers in grey represent power settings that the POH does not recommend for that altitude - power settings above about 70% power are not recommend for continuous cruising. Perhaps the most striking thing about these figures is the importance of correct mixture leaning technique - something which I feel is poorly taught in most PPL courses.

N2374U Cruise Performance