Flown a couple of them over the years ……….. probably the reason I own a DR400.
I just counted 30 different 172 in my logbook. Mostly S and R models, a good about of g1000, some hours in a RG that didn’t like the singer weather in NJ, and even a F172
ivark wrote:
must be country dependent, in Estonia the ratio is 10-3 cessna vs piper..
My impression FWIW is that Piper did well selling Cherokees etc in the UK, specifically.
I’ve flown at least 10 different C172’s from the H to the S variants.
johnh wrote:
DIfferent in Europe where the PA28 seems more common.
must be country dependent, in Estonia the ratio is 10-3 cessna vs piper..
I seem to have flown 8 of them, including practically all of my primary and IR training. I’d be surprised if 99% of US pilots don’t have time in one. Look at any GA airport and they are the single most common type. DIfferent in Europe where the PA28 seems more common.
Your anecdotes would make a good book or at least a blog. Very nicely written! You don’t happen to have a picture of those fbo workers in hotpants (just kidding).
:)
Fond of this stalwart of aviation but early in my flying I appreciated the need for more grunt.
Aged 13 3/4 metaphorically I was to ferry a 172M with electronic sign writing under the wing. Imagine a sort of aerial application row of lights. All was well until I reached Denver Stapleton. Having been dazzled by the Coombs Jet FBO ramp ladies in shorts, this was the 70’s, I proceeded to take off having leaned the mixture for peak RPM. Time was around 5pm local and outside temp high 20’s.
The then young 172 managed to get airborne but I had to nurse it round back to land, the combination of the density altitude and lighting system reducing climb rate to gnats level.
I quickly realised that nursing it across the Rockies in summer meant night VFR, my testicular fortitude being lacking a more wily and courageous colleague carried out the gig and delivered it several days later to Vancouver.
I’ve rented 2 post-2000 models, not glass, in Colorado, and at least 3 older ones in Scotland. I don’t like the C172, although I’ve continued flying in conditions worse than I’ve flown in anything else.
I prefer C152/150 and Pa28/38 for rental.
About 350 hours on 6 regs, mostly 172 N, flying myself and instructing. Fond memories taking up lots of people who all enjoyed the great views straight down.
