
Early & Late Model Overview • 3
IMPORTANT: Aircraft information can be obtained from the Owner’s Manual,
POH or POH-AFM (as appropriate for the model) . Airplanes with engine
modifications (and possibly increased gross weights) will have additional
information in the Supplemental Airplane Flight Manual in Section 9 . Refer to
the official aircraft documents for ALL information .
ATP Cessna 172 aircraft models include R / S models ( “Late Model”) and K thru P
models (“Early Model”). Over 75% of ATP's Cessna 172 fleet are Late Model.
R model Cessnas were introduced in 1996, and were the first to come factory
equipped with fuel-injected engines. Starting procedures are substantially
different between the earlier models with carbureted engines and the later models
with injected engines. Review the engine start procedures by referencing the latest
ATP 172 checklist for the 172 model you will be flying.
Model Number
Year of Production
172 K
1969–70
172 L
1971–72
172 M
1973–76
172 N
1977–80
172 P
1981–86
172 R
1996–2009
172 S
1998–Present
EARL
Y
MODELS
LAT
E
MODELS
SECTION 1
Early & Late Model Overview