A pilot plans a long cross-country in a Cardinal RG after years of fixed-gear flying. The airplane will be quicker than anything they’ve taken on a trip before, and every leg will end with the same question: is the gear down?
The 177 RG is the retractable-gear Cardinal, with a constant-speed propeller and the family’s strutless wing. On a trip with several stops, fatigue and unfamiliar airports set the stage for skipped checks, so the gear and propeller items need to be read every single time.
CheckMate+ adds abort plan prompts and ATC communications prompts to the airplane’s checklist, which helps at unfamiliar airports where workload is already high.
Quick answer: CheckMate Cessna 177 RG Checklist is a model-specific cockpit checklist for pilots who fly the Cessna 177 RG Cardinal RG. It suits owners and renters of the Cardinal RG, including pilots moving up from fixed-gear airplanes. It’s offered as the original CheckMate, CheckMate+ and the personalized CheckMate Pro, with the CheckMate versions in Standard and Compact sizes. It supplements, not replaces, the airplane’s POH/AFM, so confirm it matches your aircraft’s exact model, year, engine and handbook before relying on it. It’s available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
Choosing a format
- CheckMate. The design that started it all, with the familiar legacy look, in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate+. Updated design language for better readability and safety, with passenger and crew briefing prompts, abort plan prompts and ATC communications prompts. It includes an instant low-res, black-and-white temporary digital download, and comes in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate Pro. A personalized version of CheckMate+. Add your tail number, name or phone number, your empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours; Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
Setting it up for your airplane
- Line it up with the POH. Compare every section with the POH/AFM, emergency procedures included, and treat the handbook as the authority wherever they differ.
- Confirm the exact airplane. Make sure the checklist matches your aircraft’s model, year and engine, plus any supplements for installed avionics or modifications.
- Read the gear items on every leg. On a multi-leg trip, run the before-landing checklist in full at every stop, including the last one when you’re tired.
- Use it every flight. Run it the same way on every flight, short local hops included, so it’s a habit rather than a formality.
Pilot tip: Plan fuel stops so you arrive at each with time and energy to spare. Tired pilots skip checklist items, and in a retractable that can be expensive.
More photos
Where to buy
CheckMate Cessna 177 RG Checklist is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price, shipping options and return terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 177 RG a complex airplane?
Yes. With retractable gear, flaps and a constant-speed propeller it meets the definition of a complex airplane, so you need a complex endorsement to act as pilot in command.
How do I know it matches my airplane?
Compare it with your aircraft’s POH/AFM and supplements, and confirm the model, year and engine. The handbook for your specific airplane takes priority over any checklist.
What can CheckMate Pro personalize?
Your tail number, name or phone number, empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours.
