DON’T GET A 172RG!!!! Not worth it. Maintenance sucks on them and yet they are still used as the primary commercial pilot trainer. They have a lower useful load than a 172 fixed gear 2 people full fuel your at gross. Performance wise they are crappy. They drop like a rock in the dirty configuration and on hot days they drag there butt (way underpowered).
If you want a really good high wing airplane that has retractable gear and cruises get a Cessna 210. They can haul a ton of gear or people. Try and get one with the continental 550 engine and you will cook over the ground (150kt easy). Doesn’t have to be the pressurized kind but it’s an option and more expensive. I would dare to say they are as great as a 310 only with 3 differences. 20 knots slower than the old 310, only 1 engine to worry about maintenance and it sips the gas, slightly lower useful load by maybe 50lb. Other than that they are great!
I have time in both aircraft. Would love to own a 210 but you couldn’t pay me to keep a 172RG.
You know that feelin' you get in the pit of your stomache when you hear about a crash/emergency landing involving an airplane with your fingerprints under the cowl?
We had a Cutlass RG land gear-up only a few hours after I had the LG actuators out for inspection. Scraped up the belly a little, prop strike... My heart fluttered for a day or so until word got back that the pilot had merely forgotten to extend the gear. The warning buzzer was working for the inspection, and later it tested ok, so eventually pilot error was settled on.
The shop manager had to inspect my working area, and though he didn't inventory 'em, told me to make sure all my tools were there.
Another thing that sucked about it: after all that work on the 500 hr actuator inspection, had to do it all over again.
There was another incident on our other RG, where the actuator end of the gear leg simply broke. This time, they were flying dual and the instructor was able to keep his wits about him, reaching outside with his foot to pull the gear down and locked.
Come to think of it, the RGs gave us a LOT more trouble than our fixed gear models. The pilots appreciated it, but didn't have to worry about the maint. costs.
