The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I'm currently a Cessna 120 owner and thinking about moving into a C-170. I know some of the differences of the 170, 170A and 170B. I would like to hear some specifics concerning powerplants they came with, fuel capacity, useful load and general things that makes an airplane desirable to own and operate.

On a personal note I don't mind the fabric wing if it came from the factory with it but never been a big fan of metalized wings. It seems like a bast@$#%erdiztion of a great vintage aircraft. My 120 has the fabric wing and performs terrific but it seems in the 170's most pilots prefer the 170B.

I look forward to hearing your input....love the C-120 but never flew the 170! Fuel burn in the 145HP engine would be nice to know.

Thanks, Kevin

Kevin, where are you located? Maybe one of our association members can give you a ride!

The best means of seeing all the differences between the 170 models is to get on of the 170 books. There is a wealth of information in that book and they are readily available from headquarters and at a very reasonable price. Anyone considering the purchase of a 170 or anyone currently owning a 170 should have one of these MUST HAVE books.

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As noted all the power plants were C-145 or 0-300-A. They are the same engine. There was is an undampened crank version of the C-145 but nothing really to be concerned if you happen on one. They didn't come with 0-300-B, C or D engines though you will find plenty of them installed. No real improvement of any kind, same engine with a different prop flange. Make sure the installation is legal.

The 48 will be most like the 140 in fact it shares a few of the parts. The A and B models were just natural progression of so called improvements. B models have more in common with later 172s as the wing is the same and so more parts are more readily available.

48s tend to be less loaded with equipment and therefor lighter and many think they fly the best. Lots of folks don't like the roll response of the 48. Many like the B model because they feel they need the big semi fowler flaps. Lots of folks think they need the 53 and later stiffer gear. But just as many think the early gear is just fine and they can go anywhere a B model with the big flaps can.

All this is very much like the Cessna 120/140 line. I'm sure there are some who wouldn't bother with less than a 140A the others want a 120.

All of the models of 170 will burn about the same gas, between 7 and 9 gal an hour and all with lift about the same weight with useful loads between 800-875.

As stated condition should be your number one concern not model. And as stated there is a lot of information here.

The easiest for us is for you to read and study a bit then ask specific questions.

One thing for sure though GREEN examples ARE faster than RED. There is a few on here who will try to tell you different.

Over the years that I owned and operated three different "B" models, I averaged about 7.2 gph fuel burn with a mid altitude, 5k to 9k MSL, TAS of 112 to 115 MPH. By preference, I almost always operated on Mogas when and where available.

grumman41 wrote:I'm currently a Cessna 120 owner and thinking about moving into a C-170. I know some of the differences of the 170, 170A and 170B. I would like to hear some specifics concerning powerplants they came with, fuel capacity, useful load and general things that makes an airplane desirable to own and operate.

On a personal note I don't mind the fabric wing if it came from the factory with it but never been a big fan of metalized wings. It seems like a bast@$#%erdiztion of a great vintage aircraft. My 120 has the fabric wing and performs terrific but it seems in the 170's most pilots prefer the 170B.

I look forward to hearing your input....love the C-120 but never flew the 170! Fuel burn in the 145HP engine would be nice to know.

Thanks, Kevin

WELCOME to our sweet little group, Kevin.
But you do need to do your homework before blasting-in asking questions that have been addressed so VERY OBVIOUSLY well. Read the opening post of THIS FORUM: http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=228

Then be brave ...and ask anything else you'd like to ask, becasue we LOVE the 170 and also anyone else who is interested in them!