What was it?

"Jim Burns" wrote in message
...

Last week I walked up to a couple pilots discussing an airplane that was
sitting on the ramp at STE. They noted that it did not have a data tag on
it so they really weren't sure what it was.

What it looked like was an early straight leg 172 fastback, but it had a
swept tail, not a straight tail. Beautiful airplane but nobody had heard
of
a swept tail fastback. Was there such a beast? or did somebody put a new
tail on an old airplane?

Any ideas or answers appreciated.


Sounds like a 172A/B/C.

The Model 172 was introduced in 1956; straight tail, fastback. The swept
tail was introduced in 1960 on the 172A, the 172B and 172C that followed had
no major changes. The cut-down rear fuselage and rear window were
introduced in 1963 on the 172D.