Sharing a Cessna 120
26 Cessna 120s in the US are registered to co-owners who aren't married to each other — ranking #56 nationwide among all shared general aviation aircraft models (July 2026). Here's what those partnerships look like and what each partner actually pays.
26
FAA Registry Data#56
Of 79 top shared models1947
Manufacture Year2 Owners: 21
3: 4 | 4: 1 | 5+: 0Worked Cost Example: Cessna 120
Direct operating cost for a 2-partner group — the most common Cessna 120 arrangement on the registry — flying 100 hours a year between them. These are the costs of running the aircraft, not a club rental rate, which would add a margin on top.
Continental C85/O-200. 5.5 gal/hr at $6.75, plus $22k overhaul spread over 1800 hours, plus $9/hr for oil, tyres, brakes and the prop fund. Check them against your own hangar, insurance and shop rates before using them for anything that matters.
$441.67 / partner / mo
Calculated at 50 hrs/yr per partner (8.3 hrs/mo total group flight time). Fixed dues cover fixed overhead, while flight hours bill exact operating time plus engine overhaul escrow.
Interactive Cessna 120 Cost Calculator
Where Cessna 120 Aircraft Are Shared
The top US states with the highest concentration of registered co-owned Cessna 120 aircraft:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Cessna 120 aircraft are co-owned in the US?
According to official FAA registry data as of July 2026, there are 26 co-owned Cessna 120 aircraft registered in the United States, making it the #56 most popular shared aircraft model.
What is the typical partnership size for a Cessna 120?
Of the 26 co-owned Cessna 120 aircraft on the registry, 21 are held by two owners, 4 by three, 1 by four and 0 by five or more. Most Cessna 120 groups therefore run with 2 partners, which is the split used in the worked example above.
What are the main states where Cessna 120 aircraft are co-owned?
The top states for co-owned Cessna 120 aircraft are California (6), Texas (4), Missouri (2), Florida (2), Washington (2).
What should the hourly engine reserve be on a Cessna 120?
The Cessna 120 runs a Continental C85/O-200. A field overhaul is around $22k against a 1800-hour TBO, which works out at roughly $12.00 per hour set aside. Partnerships that skip this end up asking each other for a four-figure cheque when the engine reaches TBO.