C-172R to SP upgrade

[Greg Farris]

More knowledgable people here will correct me, but from what I know, the
only difference between a 172-R and a 172-SP, besides the leather seats,
is the prop on the SP, running at a slightly higher speed.This produces
a significant performance difference between the two.

Is it possible therefore to "upgrade" a 172R to SP performance?
I am not referring to some aftermarket cruise prop, and I am only
interested in approved modifications (Cessna approved or STC'd).

Thanks in advance,

G Faris

[[email protected]]

Greg Farris wrote:
> More knowledgable people here will correct me, but from what I know,
the
> only difference between a 172-R and a 172-SP, besides the leather
seats,
> is the prop on the SP, running at a slightly higher speed.This
produces
> a significant performance difference between the two.
>
> Is it possible therefore to "upgrade" a 172R to SP performance?
> I am not referring to some aftermarket cruise prop, and I am only
> interested in approved modifications (Cessna approved or STC'd).
>

The only one I know of is the Air Plains STC (www.airplains.com).
They jumped on this before the SP model came out. The 160 hp derated
IO-360 was a natural candidate for a hp upgrade. All you have to do is
spin it a little faster.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Dude]

"Greg Farris" > wrote in message
...
> More knowledgable people here will correct me, but from what I know, the
> only difference between a 172-R and a 172-SP, besides the leather seats,
> is the prop on the SP, running at a slightly higher speed.This produces
> a significant performance difference between the two.
>
> Is it possible therefore to "upgrade" a 172R to SP performance?
> I am not referring to some aftermarket cruise prop, and I am only
> interested in approved modifications (Cessna approved or STC'd).
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> G Faris
>

You may want to look into the new powerflow exhausts. I spoke with a guy
who did the exhaust mod along with some service from Lycoming that cleans up
the engine a bit. His claims for his Tiger were fairly unbelievable, but it
was clear he thought it was some of the best money he ever spent.

[Dude]

PS

I have heard from more than one person, including a Cessna rep that R models
actually cruise faster than S models. I dunno whether this is the weight or
the prop.

Just in case you wanted the extra speed rather than the load, climb or
altitude.

[Dude]

"Aaron Coolidge" > wrote in message
...
> Dude > wrote:
> : PS
>
> : I have heard from more than one person, including a Cessna rep that R
> models
> : actually cruise faster than S models. I dunno whether this is the
> weight or
> : the prop.
>
> : Just in case you wanted the extra speed rather than the load, climb or
> : altitude.
>
> I've flown both & studied both POH's. The 172R (160HP) says to use 85%
> power for cruise. Amazingly enough, 85% of 160 is the same as 75% of 180!
>
> The SP climbs a bit better in the configuration I flew in which was well
> under gross, but you can load it up more than the R as I recall cutting
> into
> the perfromance delta.
> --
> Aaron C.
>

The SP definitely climbs better, but they usually come with more avionics as
well. I have flown both, but I never compared the cruises myself. I do
remember the climb being better in the SP.

[Greg Farris]

In article >, says...

>I have heard from more than one person, including a Cessna rep that R models
>actually cruise faster than S models. I dunno whether this is the weight or
>the prop.
>
>Just in case you wanted the extra speed rather than the load, climb or
>altitude.
>

Yeah, that was my idea. I think Cessna gives something like 122KTAS for the
172R - but I have never been able to get it to go that fast in level flight.
110 or a pinch above is more typical, and that sort of cuts into the
usefulness for a plane that is otherwise very well appointed and quite
comfortable.

I thought the 180hp SP would be faster. It would be nice to at least break the
2nm/min mark in cruise.

G Faris