Cessna 152 vs Cessna 150
The Cessna 150 (1959-1977, 100 hp Continental O-200) and Cessna 152 (1978-1985, 110 hp Lycoming O-235) are the two definitive two-seat primary trainers — same airframe, different engines and the 152's upgraded systems.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 59
- Median asking
- $70,000
- Range
- $45,545–$117,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 19
- Source marketplaces
- 11
- Model years available
- 1977–1983
- For sale now
- 136
- Median asking
- $53,250
- Range
- $32,955–$91,808
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 34
- Source marketplaces
- 13
- Model years available
- 1959–1978
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
Cessna 152 — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Cessna 150 — 1 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Cessna 152 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 2435 | 3241 |
| Serious | 130 | 351 |
| Fatal | 255 | 427 |
| Fatalities | 386 | 611 |
| % Fatal | 10% | 13% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 152 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $45,545 – $117,000 | $32,955 – $91,808 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 2 | 2 |
| Horsepower | 110 HP | 100 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 100 kts (185 km/h) | 97 kts (180 km/h) |
| Range | 415 nm (769 km) | 420 nm (778 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,700 ft (4,481 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 1,670 lbs (758 kg) | 1,600 lbs (726 kg) |
| Useful Load | 528 lbs (240 kg) | 530 lbs (240 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 26.0 gal (98 L) | 26.0 gal (98 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 6.1 GPH (23 L/h) | 6.0 GPH (23 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,400 hrs | 1,800 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $22,000 | $25,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $100 | $100 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 152
Cessna 150
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 152 or Cessna 150?
Bottom line: Choose the 152 for the slightly more powerful Lycoming engine, refined panel and the larger active fleet still on training duty. Choose the 150 for materially lower acquisition cost and the older Continental O-200 — same fundamental aircraft, lower entry price.
Pick the 152 if…
- Faster cruise — 100 kts vs 97 kts.
- Newer design — production from 1977 vs 1959.
Pick the 150 if…
- Budget matters — from $32,955 vs $45,545, you save ~$12,590.
- Longer range — 420 nm vs 415 nm.
- More inventory — 140 listings vs 59.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.