Cessna 175 SkylarkCessna 175 Skylark airplane model. The Cessna 175 was created to fill the void between the slower 172 and the costlier 182. Production began in 1958 and ended in 1962, with 2,106 built. Pilots did not trust longevity of the higher speed, geared Continental GO 300 engine, even with a promised a 15 mph edge on the 172 and better short field landing and takeoffs. Visible changes to the 175 began in 1960, with a swept vertical fin and engine cowling