Cessna 152 financing, specs & price
Successor to 150, improved performance. Built 1977-1985; Lycoming O-235-L2C (110 hp); 2 seats; 107-knot cruise.
What a 152 costs to finance
Payment examples at three price points, using typical lender guidelines for single-engine aircraft and a 7.75% illustrative APR. Your rate depends on credit, loan size, term and the specific airplane.
| Example | Price | Down | Loan | Term | Payment @ 7.75% | Range @ 6.99–9.99% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older / higher-time | $22,000 | 15% ($3,300) | $18,700 | 15 yrs | $176/mo | $168–$201 |
| Mid-market (most common) | $30,000 | 15% ($4,500) | $25,500 | 15 yrs | $240/mo | $229–$274 |
| Late / low-time | $42,000 | 15% ($6,300) | $35,700 | 15 yrs | $336/mo | $321–$383 |
Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Prices are typical asking ranges from our aircraft database — verify any specific airplane with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook and a pre-buy inspection. Not a quote or commitment to lend.
Get real numbers for your 152
Share the tail number or listing and your timeline — a specialist will price it across multiple lenders.
152 specifications & operating economics
Performance & capacity
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C (110 hp)
- Production
- 1977-1985
- Seats
- 2
- Cruise
- 107 kts
- Range
- 415 NM
- Fuel capacity
- 26 gal
Fuel economics (September 2026)
- Fuel burn
- 6 gph
- Fuel cost per hour
- $43
- Fuel cost per nautical mile
- $0.41
- Endurance (no reserve)
- 4.3 hrs
- Fuel for 100 hrs/yr
- $4,344
100LL at $7.24/gal (AirNav national average, September 2026).
What lenders and underwriters look at on a 152
- Similar corrosion concerns as 150
- O-235 engine reliability is excellent
- Check flap actuator and trim system
- Verify avionics—many still have original steam gauges
Pre-buy inspection focus areas
- Firewall cracks (common)
- Nose gear shimmy damper
- Wing strut AD compliance
- Carburetor ice history
Pre-buy inspections are typically paid out of pocket, not financed. See the pre-buy checklist.
Cessna 152 financing FAQs
How much does a Cessna 152 cost?
Typical asking prices for a Cessna 152 run from about $22,000 for older or higher-time examples to $42,000 for late, low-time ones, with most trading near $30,000. Engine time, avionics, damage history and paint/interior drive the spread — confirm with a Vref or Aircraft Bluebook valuation and a pre-buy inspection.
What is the monthly payment on a Cessna 152?
At a $30,000 purchase price with 15% down ($4,500), a $25,500 loan over 15 years is about $240 per month at 7.75% APR, or roughly $229–$274 across the 6.99%–9.99% range lenders published as of September 2026. Principal and interest only.
How much down payment do I need for a Cessna 152?
Plan on at least 15% down for a single-engine aircraft built after 1960. Twenty-year terms are generally available on loans of $75,000 or more.
What does a Cessna 152 cost to fly per hour in fuel?
At about 6 gallons per hour and the September 2026 national average of $7.24 per gallon for 100LL, fuel alone is roughly $43 per hour, or about $0.41 per nautical mile at a 107-knot cruise. Add reserves, insurance, storage and the annual for the full picture.
Can I finance an older Cessna 152?
Usually, yes. Lenders finance piston singles without a fixed age limit, though pre-1960 aircraft may need a larger down payment and shorter term, and airframes over 10,000 hours are often excluded. Complete logbooks, AD compliance and a clean pre-buy matter more than the year on an older 152.
More Cessna aircraft
- Cessna 150 · ~$25,000
- Cessna 162 Skycatcher · ~$75,000
- Cessna 170B · ~$50,000
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk · ~$125,000
- Cessna 175 Skylark · ~$38,000
- Cessna 177 Cardinal · ~$65,000
- Cessna 180 Skywagon · ~$140,000
- Cessna 182 Skylane · ~$150,000
Similar price range
- Grumman American AA-1 Yankee · ~$26,000
- Cessna 150 · ~$25,000
- Beechcraft Musketeer 19 · ~$25,000
- Cessna 175 Skylark · ~$38,000