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Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 19:23:19 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Cessna 152 as a trainer thru Inst rating????
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HLAviation wrote:

> Might as well pony up a couple extra bucks and get a 182, or 
> Dakota, or Cherokee 6 and have a usefull simple airplane.

Opinions are like assholes, we all have 'em and few want to 
examine anyone else's *grin* (nothing personal intended HL)

I don't consider any of the above a "useful simple airplane"
for people just learning to fly.

Reasons being:
1) They are at the upper limit of what one person can take out
   and fly by themselves.  C182s laugh at me when I try to 
   move 'em, and Cherokee 6's don't even notice I'm there trying
   But I've seen 6'+ guys struggling to move these planes solo
   esp. up any sort of incline so it's not just a shrimpette thing.

2) Operating costs: they burn a lot of fuel at low altitude,
doing         pattern work, maneuvering, and sightseeing -- the sort of
things        students and new pilots want to do with a "simple
airplane".

3) The extra speed and load hauling ability offset the higher 
   operating/maint costs for long cross country trips w/ family
   or on business, but in training they aren't providing extra
   utility for the cost
 
So for lots and lots of pattern work, maneuvering flight, short
hops as several guys learn to fly, why spend all the extra money
on fuel and maint. reserve of the large engine and insurance when
the extra utility isn't needed?  And the extra weight/size make it 
more awkward to haul the plane out and punch holes in the sky solo
(which is one of the stellar points of owning one's own plane)

Makes more sense to buy a simple airplane like a C152 or PA28-140
or a Grumman AA1B, or a C172, PA28-150, Beechcraft Musketeer or
Grumman Traveller to take friends after the ticket's earned.

Then sell it and buy the larger load-hauler when the extra cost
is justified by the extra utility.

Snowbird

