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Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 12:39:07 -0500
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Subject: Re: Cherokee 180
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Victoria Deaton wrote:

> Anyone here got any observations about flying a Cherokee 180? <...>
> How's it feel? Heavy on the controls? Light? Fun or feels more like 
> a family wagon?

Well, that depends.  Relative to what?

It's an excellent instrument trainer -- stable and steady, won't
get away from you easily, good crosswind capability, easy to 
land.  It's a good cross country plane which will haul 4 real 
people on partial fuel and still fly for 200 miles with a good
reserve.

When I was flying C172s and C182s I thought it was a nice-handling
plane--more speed and useful load than the C172 and easier for me
to handle on the ground (C182s laugh at me when I try to move them).  

We considered buying one (it's one of the best value-for-$$ IMO), 
until I flew a Grumman Tiger and fell in loooove.

Now I'll tell you that a PA28-180 flies like a truck, has heavy
controls, and the visibility is like sitting in a bathtub if 
you're short. You can't pile on the cushions too deep because 
the wide yoke will smack you in the thighs.  Oh, yeah, and it's
stifling hot with that one door and the tiny little window instead
of that beautiful sliding canopy where you can fly with it open
aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

But I was up today practicing holds and approaches in a 40-kt wind 
aloft gusting 22 on the ground, and even I gotta say it would have 
been a more peaceful flight in the Piper 180.  I love Tigger, but
on days like this he just doesn't let ya rest.

Though I did see two guys getting out of a 180 as I was ready to 
leave, and they neither looked too rested :).

Snowbird

