[debergalis]

> I am thinking a major reason for the longevity of the Cessna training line is more to do with cost for budget conscious training schools, rather than being a better aircraft that any other trainer.

Yeah, budget and familiarity. I doubt Cessna is selling many 172s to anything other than flight schools.

[btgeekboy]

Your average flight school doesn't buy new 172s. Suckers with a lot of money do. (A new 172 costs over $350k last I checked. One a few years old can go for half.)

What flight schools do buy are the 172P, N and M, in that order. A low time 172P, being the last made before production stopped in the 1980s, commands a premium.