The Cessna 172 is a four-seat single engined high wing light aircraft of all-metal construction, developed by Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas, USA. Introduced in 1955, the Model 172 was initially a Model 170 with tricycle undercarriage and altered tail unit. The Model 172 was approved by the FAA on 4 November 1955. The first flight of the prototype was in November 1955. The 172 became an sales success and over 1400 were built in 1956, its first full year of production. The first major design change was introduced in the Model 172A, quantity deliveries of which began in 1960. The Model 172A featured swept vertical tail surfaces and was followed into production by the Model 172B late in 1960. A de luxe version of the Model 172B was introduced simultaneously as the Skyhawk. The 1962 model was the Cessna 172C, followed in 1963 by the Model 172D, and in 1964 by the Model 172E. In 1964, Cessna won a contract with the U.S. Air Force for one hundred and seventy aircraft Model 172 aircraft, under the designation Cessna T-41A. The first T-41A was delivered in September 1964. The Cessna T-41A Mescalero primairy trainer was used as initial flight screening aircraft in USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Over the years, U.S. Air Force ordered 855 of the aircraft in ever more powerful versions from models A through D, the latter with a 210-horsepower engine and a variable-pitch propeller. The Air Force and Naval academies used the T-41 to train cadets, while the U.S. Army used it for reconnaissance. Beginning in 1993 the U.S. military phased out the Mescalero. The 1965 Model 172F introduced electrically operated flaps to replace the previous lever-operated system. The Model 172F (USAF T-41A) was approved by the FAA on 21 April 1964. Starting with the Model 172F the Cessna 172 was built in France by Reims Cessna as the F172 until 1971. These aircraft were identical to the US-built aircraft but the French aircraft were given DGAC Type Certificates. The Cessna model in 1966 was the 172G, followed in 1967 by the Model 172H. In 1968 not only Model 172I was introduced, but also a new model the 177. The 1969 model 172K was, despite some developments in production as Model 172K in 1970. The Model 172L was in production during 1971 and 1972. The Model 172M gained a drooped wing leading edge for improved low speed handling. The 172M was also the first to introduce the optional `II' package of higher standard equipment. The 172M of 1973 was in production in the period 1973-1976. Also in 1976 Cessna stopped marketing the aircraft as the 172. Model 172N, the Skyhawk N, or Skyhawk/100 as Cessna termed it, was introduced for the 1977 model year. The Model 172N remained in production until 1980 when the Model 172P or Skyhawk P was introduced. Production of the Model 172P, or Skyhawk P ended in 1985 and Cessna stopped production entirely in 1986 for ten years due to the high cost of liability. After the General Aviation Revitalization Act became law, Cessna resumed production in Independence, Kansas. The Skyhawk R was introduced in 1996 and is powered by a derated Lycoming IO-360L2A producing a maximum of 160 hp. This is the first Cessna 172 to have a factory fitted fuel-injected engine. The Cessna 172S was introduced in 1998. This model is marketed under the name Skyhawk SP, although the Type Certiciation data sheet specifies it is a 172S. As of 2007, both the R and S models are in production. With more than 43,000 aircraft with several model variants delivered, the Skyhawk is the best-selling, most-flown plane ever built.

In 1980, the retractable landing gear version of the 172 was introduced. Cessna named it the Cutlass 172RG. While numbered and marketed as a 172, Model 172RG, Skyhawk RG was approved on 1 June 1979 as part of the Type Certificate No. 3A17 basicly the Cessna Model 175 Skylark certificate. The landing gear retraction system in the 172RG is the same as used in the Skylane RG and uses hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically-driven pump and can be operated at anytime under 161 mph, taking about five seconds to cycle. The Cutlass RG has a strut braced high wing and features a variable pitch, constant-speed propeller and a more powerful Lycoming O-360-F1A6 engine of 180 hp. The 172RG did not find wide acceptance in the personal aircraft market, but was delivered to many flight schools since it met the specific requirements necessary to obtain a Commercial Pilot certificate at relatively low cost. Between 1980 and 1984 1177 RGs were built, with a small number following before production ceased in 1985.

On 16 September 1982, the Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG s/n 172RG-0704 was registered N6443V in the USA with Cessna Aircraft Co., Zaventem, Belgium.. The same day, registration N6443V was cancelled as exported to Germany. In May 1981, registration D-EIKP was reserved in Germany for Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG c/n 172RG-0704, but instead of this airframe Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG c/n 172RG-0645 was registered D-EIKP. In September 1982, Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG c/n 172RG0704 was registered D-EOWN in Germany. On 2 August 2015, the 1981-Model Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG D-EOWN was seen at Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg.

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