Aircraft comparison
Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Piper PA-38 Tomahawk: cost sharing compared
Two popular choices for a shared flight. Here is how their typical UK running costs compare, and what each person pays.
| Measure | Cessna 172 Skyhawk | Piper PA-38 Tomahawk |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 2 |
| Typical wet hire / hour | £225-£290 | £165-£215 |
| Per person / hour, all seats full | ≈ £65 | ≈ £95 |
| Typical cruise | 115 kt | 95 kt |
| Hire cost per nautical mile | £2.24 | £2.00 |
| Fuel burn | 32 L/hr (AVGAS 100LL) | 23 L/hr (AVGAS 100LL) |
| 100 nm trip: time | 52 min | 63 min |
| 100 nm trip: hire cost | £224.35 | £200.00 |
| 100 nm trip: per person, all seats full | £56.08 | £100.00 |
Which is cheaper to share?
- The Piper PA-38 Tomahawk is usually cheaper to hire by the hour.
- With every seat filled, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk works out cheaper per person per hour - more seats spread the cost further.
- The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is faster, so on a 100 nm trip the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk costs less to fly overall.
Rates vary a lot between clubs, so use the cost sharing calculator with your own operator's figures. Whichever you choose, no passenger can pay more than an equal share, so you always pay at least yours - see what counts as a direct cost.
More comparisons
Compare the Cessna 172 Skyhawk with
Figures are indicative UK club wet hire rates and typical cruise performance, not quotes. Trip figures assume still air at cruise speed and exclude airfield charges.