The Cessna 160 is a two-seat, single-engine, light aircraft that was produced by Cessna between 1955 and 1965. It was developed as an entry-level aircraft for the general aviation market and was intended to compete with the Piper Cub. It was the first aircraft in the Cessna family to feature a tricycle landing gear.

The aircraft was designed to be easy to fly, with a wide and stable flight envelope. It had an efficient wing design and a lightweight airframe that allowed it to be flown at a lower cost than its competitors. The aircraft was also designed to be affordable, with a price tag of just $5,200 when it was first released.

The Cessna 160 was a popular aircraft and over 5,300 were built before production ended in 1965. The aircraft is still in service today and is used for recreational flying, flight training, and light transport. It is considered to be one of the most reliable and economical aircraft in the general aviation market.

The Cessna 160 has had a few safety issues over the years, most notably the failure of the tailplane structure during dives. This issue was addressed by Cessna in 1962 with a redesigned tailplane. In addition, the aircraft was found to be prone to stalling during turns, which was addressed with the introduction of a stall warning system in 1965.

The Cessna 160 is an innovative aircraft and was one of the first to feature a tricycle landing gear. This allowed for easier takeoffs and landings and allowed pilots to make smoother landings. The aircraft also featured a new engine design, which was more efficient than the engines used on other aircraft in the same class.

The Cessna 160 is different from other aircraft in its class in that it is an affordable, easy-to-fly aircraft that can be used for both recreational and light transport purposes. It is reliable, efficient, and has a wide and stable flight envelope. In addition, the aircraft has seen several safety improvements over the years, making it one of the safest aircraft in its class.