I have owned a 177A for eight years and love it. It has several
qualities hard to find anywhere, even in later year Cardinals. If you
are looking at a 177A(Cessna 1969 model), and not a 1968 177(no A),
then it came from the factory with the 180 HP engine. It is the 150 HP
1968 model that you can't fill the seats on a hot day.My 177A has a
useful load of over a 1000 lbs, and I have flown it there several times
and it handles it well. The slots in the Stabilator eliminated the
stalling in the flare issue. Cardinals have great looks, room, and the
early ones have a high useful load. I actually prefer the early airfoil
that was changed the following year to a more Skyhawk like one. If you
use alot of nose up trim, you should feel little pressure upon landing.
Should get 118 knots at 75% cruise. Later models will do 130.
Wouldn't trade it for anything in it's class.


wrote:
Hello there,

I am considering the purchase of a Cardinal 177A with low frame and
engine times, nice gps and slaved HSI. It has had 2 accidents, one in
2003 requiring major work to everything in front of and including the
firewall. I have flown the plane and it feels heavier on the landings
with more stick pressure required than in the 172`s I have flown but
otherwise OK. I have heard that this early model Cardinal has tail
stall issues and that one should not fill her up to the max permitted
gross weight on warm days. I would be flying alone 95% of the time and
in Canada where we only have cold days.

Any thoughts by owners on this plane?

Tien, CP