Cessna
Cessna
Iconic aircraft since 1927. The world's most popular training & utility aircraft.
"There are aircraft manufacturers. And then there is Gulfstream."
Founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1927 — the self-proclaimed Air Capital of the World — Cessna Aircraft Company was born from one man’s conviction that flight should be available to anyone with the ambition to reach for the sky. Clyde Cessna, a Kansas farmer who taught himself to fly after watching a barnstormer cross his fields in 1910, built a company on that belief. Nearly a century later, it remains the philosophy behind every aircraft that bears his name.
Cessna has produced more aircraft than any other manufacturer in history. The 172 Skyhawk—introduced in 1955 and still in production today—is the most built aircraft ever conceived. The Caravan, introduced in 1984, became the workhorse of remote aviation worldwide. And when Cessna entered the business jet market in 1972 with the original Citation I, it quietly began a second dynasty that now spans the most complete business jet lineup in aviation.
What has never changed is the founding conviction: build aircraft that work, that last, and that give their owners a freedom that nothing else can replicate.
Production, Build Times & What They Cost
Textron Aviation delivers Cessna piston and turboprop aircraft as part of a combined production run of approximately 400–500 aircraft per year across all Cessna and Beechcraft models — the highest volume of any general aviation manufacturer in the world. Piston aircraft like the Skyhawk and Skylane have been in continuous production for over six decades, with no end in sight.
Build times for new Cessna piston aircraft typically run 6 to 12 months from order to delivery — among the most competitive in the industry. The Grand Caravan EX, with its more complex turbine systems and optional float or amphibious configurations, typically runs 12 to 18 months. The TTx is no longer in production; well-maintained pre-owned examples are the only path to ownership.
| Model | New List Price (approx.) | Pre-Owned Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk | $450,000–$500,000 | $80,000–$300,000 |
| Cessna 182 Skylane | $550,000–$600,000 | $100,000–$350,000 |
| Cessna TTx | Discontinued — pre-owned only | $300,000–$550,000 |
| Grand Caravan EX | $2.4–$2.6 million | $800,000–$2 million |
Prices are indicative and subject to configuration, market conditions, and availability. Arc Jet Club’s acquisition team provides current, independent market valuations.
“The Cessna piston pre-owned market is the most established and liquid in general aviation. A well-maintained Skyhawk or Skylane holds its value exceptionally well and can typically be acquired and airworthy within 30–45 days of agreement. The Caravan pre-owned market is similarly active — Arc Jet Club monitors availability of well-maintained examples continuously for clients with remote estate and utility aviation requirements.”
The Full Cessna Piston & Turboprop Fleet
PISTON SINGLE
Cessna 172 Skyhawk — The Aircraft That Taught the World to Fly
Range: 640 nm · Up to 4 passengers · Cruise: 122 knots · In production since: 1955. Over 44,000 built and still rolling off the Wichita production line. The Skyhawk’s high-wing configuration delivers exceptional ground visibility and stability. Its tricycle landing gear forgives the errors that defeat student pilots in other aircraft. And its Lycoming engine offers a mechanical reliability so proven that anxiety simply does not feature in a Skyhawk pilot’s world. For UHNW individuals pursuing a private pilot certificate — one of the most personally rewarding achievements in aviation — the 172 remains the first choice of instructors worldwide.PISTON SINGLE
Phenom 300E — The World’s Best-Selling Light Jet
Range: 2,010 nm · Up to 8 passengers · Cruise: Mach 0.82. Over a decade at the top of the global light jet sales charts. The Phenom 300E features Bose noise-cancellation as standard, a fully flat floor, best-in-class baggage capacity, and a cabin that comfortably accommodates eight passengers on sectors up to four hours. For clients who fly privately on a regular basis and want outstanding quality at an accessible operating cost, the Phenom 300E is the benchmark.PRAETOR SERIES
Cessna 182 Skylane — The Serious Traveler’s Piston
Range: 915 nm · Up to 4 passengers · Cruise: 145 knots · In production since: 1956. More power, more range, and more useful load than the Skyhawk — in an airframe with the same legendary reliability. The Skylane is the natural progression for pilots who want an aircraft capable of genuine cross-country travel: weekend escapes, fly-in visits to private estates, and the autonomy of departing on your schedule to destinations of your choosing. Over 23,000 built. Still the benchmark of its category after nearly seven decades.TURBOPROP SINGLE
Grand Caravan EX — The Key to the Unreachable
Range: 1,070 nm · Up to 14 passengers · Cruise: 175 knots · Available on wheel, float, amphibious, and ski configurations. There is no aircraft more versatile in personal aviation. The Grand Caravan EX’s Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbine — one of the most reliable powerplants ever conceived — takes it to unprepared strips, remote lake shores, and mountain approaches that rule out every other aircraft. A 14-passenger cabin, substantial payload, and the ability to operate in virtually any configuration make it the aircraft of choice for private island owners, remote estate managers, safari lodge operators, and anyone whose world extends beyond the reach of conventional aviation.Cessna Aircraft Comparison: Which is Right for You?
| 172 Skyhawk | 182 Skylane | TTx | Grand Caravan EX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Flight training, first ownership | Cross-country travel | High-performance touring | Remote access, utility ops |
| Pilot certificate required | Private pilot | Private pilot | Complex endorsement | Commercial preferred |
| Passengers | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | Up to 14 |
| Operating cost (approx.) | $80–$120/hr | $100–$150/hr | $150–$200/hr | $400–$600/hr |
| Acquisition cost new | $450,000–$500,000 | $550,000–$600,000 | Pre-owned only | $2.4–$2.6 million |
| Ideal client | New pilot, flight training | Active pilot, estate travel | Experienced pilot, touring | Remote property owner |
We advise on the right aircraft for your specific lifestyle, travel patterns, and ambitions. We identify pre-owned opportunities before they reach the open market. We coordinate pre-buy inspections, manage title and escrow, and arrange post-purchase management or training programs. And we do all of it with the same commitment to discretion and precision that defines every Arc Jet Club client relationship.
Whether your interest lies in a Skyhawk for personal flight training, a Caravan for remote estate access, or the complete Citation business jet family — one conversation with Arc Jet Club is all it takes to begin.