bought the plane today

[houstondan]

my first airplane. cessna 172C.

this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell
some about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
planning; hoping.

why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
rod that's laying on the floor) and the 6 cylinder engine which,
although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
to the banging of the 4s. any airport in america has mechanics and
parts to fix a 172. it is slow by most standards but i think i see
15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.

i paid 34k$ and wells fargo financed me at 7.75 for 15 years. makes it
managable. very friendly people. i like them.

i joined aopa and subscribed to trade-a-plane and g.a. news. haunted
the web for any and all information i could find on airplanes including
the new light sport stuff.

every evening, or something close to that, i would read the adds in
trade a plane and e-bay and whatever i could find untill i had a good
working understanding of the issues around aircraft purchase and
ownership. i have not been flying much lately because i knew i would
need the money to buy - not rent.

when the plane showed-up at my local airport, i expressed interest and
had the owner agree to a full inspection by my mechanic. that uncovered
an exhaust valve problem. he fixed it and we closed today. yipee!! i
now own a plane. had my mechanic not examined the plane then i would be
looking at a grand in engine fix already. now, at least, i've got all 6
doing well north of 70lbs.

i''ll be joining the cessna pilots assn. shortly. thanks y'all who
advised there. hooks airport is renting t-hangers at 250/month and i'll
be getting one tomorrow. i really like having a tin box for my bird.
anyway, that's my experience so for. hope it helps.

i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

dan

[Bob Noel]

In article om>,
"houstondan" > wrote:

[snip]
> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

and worth every darn penny.

congrats.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

[karl gruber]

Good going!

The 172 is the world's most popular airplane for a reason!

Karl
"Curator"


"houstondan" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
>
> this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
> information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell
> some about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
> planning; hoping.
>
> why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
> rod that's laying on the floor) and the 6 cylinder engine which,
> although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
> to the banging of the 4s. any airport in america has mechanics and
> parts to fix a 172. it is slow by most standards but i think i see
> 15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
> on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.
>
> i paid 34k$ and wells fargo financed me at 7.75 for 15 years. makes it
> managable. very friendly people. i like them.
>
> i joined aopa and subscribed to trade-a-plane and g.a. news. haunted
> the web for any and all information i could find on airplanes including
> the new light sport stuff.
>
> every evening, or something close to that, i would read the adds in
> trade a plane and e-bay and whatever i could find untill i had a good
> working understanding of the issues around aircraft purchase and
> ownership. i have not been flying much lately because i knew i would
> need the money to buy - not rent.
>
> when the plane showed-up at my local airport, i expressed interest and
> had the owner agree to a full inspection by my mechanic. that uncovered
> an exhaust valve problem. he fixed it and we closed today. yipee!! i
> now own a plane. had my mechanic not examined the plane then i would be
> looking at a grand in engine fix already. now, at least, i've got all 6
> doing well north of 70lbs.
>
> i''ll be joining the cessna pilots assn. shortly. thanks y'all who
> advised there. hooks airport is renting t-hangers at 250/month and i'll
> be getting one tomorrow. i really like having a tin box for my bird.
> anyway, that's my experience so for. hope it helps.
>
> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>
> dan
>

[Montblack]

("houstondan" wrote)
> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
>
> this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
> information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell some
> about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
> planning; hoping.


Congratulations on your purchase!

http://www.airventure.org/2006/news/060214_cessna.html
Oshkosh is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the 172 this year!


Montblack

[Guy Byars]

> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.

Gauy

[Dan Luke]

"houstondan" wrote:

> my first airplane. cessna 172C.

Congratulations. Welcome to the club.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Steve Foley]

"Guy Byars" > wrote in message news:Fl04g.23541
> Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.

I thought the gubmint mandated ethanol had pretty much made auto gas useless
in a plane.

[ktbr]

Guy Byars wrote:
>>i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>
>
> Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.
>
> Gauy
>
>
The thing I don't like about autogas is that it goes rancid
so easily and quickly. Unless you fly alot and often it may
not be so good to use it.

[three-eight-hotel]

Congrats Dan!

There's no better feeling than to decide, "spur of the moment", that
you want to go flying and to know that your plane is exactly where you
left it last, and in the condition "YOU" left it!

Check out the thread on "do-it-yourself" things you can do, to minimize
costs on ownership incidentals.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.aviation.piloting/browse_frm/thread/7b886a61818bfa91/4d09ab340aa7a707?lnk=raot#4d09ab340aa7a707

Best Regards,
Todd

[Matt Barrow]

"Steve Foley" > wrote in message
news:9K24g.1977$ud.217@trndny03...
> "Guy Byars" > wrote in message news:Fl04g.23541
>> Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.
>
> I thought the gubmint mandated ethanol had pretty much made auto gas
> useless
> in a plane.
>
Neal Boortz:
http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/
"Congress recently refused to protect the MTBE makers from liability from
frivolous lawsuits. MTBE is a component in gasoline ... and the makers are
bailing. MTBE is to be replaced by ethanol .. .but the ethanol producers
just can't keep up! This affects supply, and reduced supply in the face of
increased demand means what? Higher gas prices? Could we get the ethanol
we need from overseas? Why yes! We could! But the Bush administration has
a 54 cent-per-gallon import duty on imported ethanol! There's your price
gouging! Drop that import duty and I wonder what would happen to gas
prices."

[xyzzy]

houstondan wrote:
> my first airplane. cessna 172C.

Congratulations, that's a great plane. Some friends of mine have one
in a two-way partnership, I tried to buy in with them but they were
happy with their partnership the way it was and didn't want to take on
a third. So I am jealous of you.

> why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
> rod that's laying on the floor)

Yup, that's definitely a big plus.

> and the 6 cylinder engine which,
> although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
> to the banging of the 4s.

Yes, that engine is sweet and you won't miss the missing hp. (You
might regret the extra cylinders at OH time though). The engine may be
less powerful than a modern 172, but the plane is also lighter. I flew
a 172C loaded just about to gross on a warm day out of a 2100 foot
elevation airport and I thought the climb up to 7500 was kinda slow.
Then a couple of months later I flew out of the same airport in a 160hp
Warrior that was more lightly loaded, and its climb was nearly
identical.

I did a lot of research on this engine and one thing I learned was that
it definitely is much happier on mogas (assuming you can get good clean
mogas for it) so you should make an effort there.

> it is slow by most standards but i think i see
> 15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
> on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.

When it's your own plane you aren't paying an hourly rental, so an
extra 30-45 minutes on a flight doesn't bother you as much. IMO.

> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

The 172C that I flew and tried to buy into had a fuel flow meter, and
we were getting about 7 gph in leaned cruise. Ok, so it's kinda slow
(I think 100kts) but like you said, reasonably efficient.

Enjoy your bird!

[Peter R.]

houstondan > wrote:

> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
<snip>

Here's to many enjoyable and pleasantly memorable experiences in your "new"
airplane. :)

--
Peter

[nrp]

You'll find you fly your own airplane differently. Go clean & spiff it
up now (that doesn't take any gas money).

Add an EGT if it doesn't have one. Personally I also like having
manifold pressure for setting and cross checking power even if it is a
fixed pitch prop.

Congratulations!

[three-eight-hotel]

>> Go clean & spiff it up now (that doesn't take any gas money).

Yeah, but it sure takes a heck of a long time! ;-)

We went up last weekend and washed the 172 and let the kids ride their
bikes around the airport. It took 4 hours just to wash it, and I was
too tired to try and wax it this time, or to do any of the finer detail
cleaning things I would have liked to have done. But... regardless of
what an @$$ kicker it can be to wash and wax a plane, it feels great
being there, cleaning your bird, and watching people flying in and out
of the airport, and watching your kids having the time of their lives
on all of that open pavement where the planes are tied down!

I think a MasterCard "priceless" commercial can easily be made out of
the adventure!

Best Regards,
Todd

[Vic7]

my first airplane. cessna 172C.


i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

dan

Congrats, Dan. I bought my first power plane in January and still get a kick out of tooling around in the afternoon after work just watching the sun go down. 172s aren't the sexiest of birds, but I learned to fly in one and still think they are a great value and a very reliable choice for a purely recreational bird.

Enjoy and be sure to share some stories with us.

V7

[.Blueskies.]

"houstondan" > wrote in message ups.com...
> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
>
> this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
> information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell
> some about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
> planning; hoping.
>
> why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
> rod that's laying on the floor) and the 6 cylinder engine which,
> although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
> to the banging of the 4s. any airport in america has mechanics and
> parts to fix a 172. it is slow by most standards but i think i see
> 15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
> on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.
>
> i paid 34k$ and wells fargo financed me at 7.75 for 15 years. makes it
> managable. very friendly people. i like them.
>
> i joined aopa and subscribed to trade-a-plane and g.a. news. haunted
> the web for any and all information i could find on airplanes including
> the new light sport stuff.
>
> every evening, or something close to that, i would read the adds in
> trade a plane and e-bay and whatever i could find untill i had a good
> working understanding of the issues around aircraft purchase and
> ownership. i have not been flying much lately because i knew i would
> need the money to buy - not rent.
>
> when the plane showed-up at my local airport, i expressed interest and
> had the owner agree to a full inspection by my mechanic. that uncovered
> an exhaust valve problem. he fixed it and we closed today. yipee!! i
> now own a plane. had my mechanic not examined the plane then i would be
> looking at a grand in engine fix already. now, at least, i've got all 6
> doing well north of 70lbs.
>
> i''ll be joining the cessna pilots assn. shortly. thanks y'all who
> advised there. hooks airport is renting t-hangers at 250/month and i'll
> be getting one tomorrow. i really like having a tin box for my bird.
> anyway, that's my experience so for. hope it helps.
>
> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>
> dan
>

I'm about to get a half of a '60 172A. Same feelings...

[.Blueskies.]

"ktbr" > wrote in message ...
> Guy Byars wrote:
>>>i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>>
>>
>> Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.
>>
>> Gauy
>>
>>
> The thing I don't like about autogas is that it goes rancid
> so easily and quickly. Unless you fly alot and often it may
> not be so good to use it.

Runs like a champ in the 172A 0-300

[Jay Honeck]

> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.

Good job, Dan!

Welcome to the land of the eternally -- and willfully -- impoverished.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[M]

I believe the recent switch from MTBE to ethanol in areas mandated to
use oxygenated gasoline will make ethanol free gasoline more available
for the rest of the country, because ethanol supply is very stretched
and the ethanol price is inflated. Right now the *wholesale* ethanol
price is $2.77/gal, about 50c higher than the gasoline. The oil
company is not going to add ethanol to gasoline in areas where it's not
absolutely mandated. Keep in mind that ethanol can't be blended into
gasoline at the refinary and transported in pipelines. It must be
transported separated and blended at a terminal facility.

[Guy Byars]

I try and keep a 50/50 mix of av/auto gas in my Skylane. More avgas in the
winter, more autogas in the summer.


"ktbr" > wrote in message
...
> Guy Byars wrote:
> >>i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
> >
> >
> > Congratulations. You ought to look into an Auto Gas STC for your plane.
> >
> > Gauy
> >
> >
> The thing I don't like about autogas is that it goes rancid
> so easily and quickly. Unless you fly alot and often it may
> not be so good to use it.

[M]

Guy Byars wrote:
> I try and keep a 50/50 mix of av/auto gas in my Skylane. More avgas in the
> winter, more autogas in the summer.
>

Shouldn't it be the other way around, if you're concerned about vapor
lock?

Autogas in winter makes starting much easier due to its higher vapor
pressure.

[Ross Richardson]

Congratulations, I think you'll like the plane. I have the F model with
a 180 hp coversion and C/S prop. I do like the extra hp. I am interested
where you live and what you get (amenities) for the $250/month hangar.

Ross
KSWI

houstondan wrote:

> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
>
> this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
> information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell
> some about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
> planning; hoping.
>
> why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
> rod that's laying on the floor) and the 6 cylinder engine which,
> although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
> to the banging of the 4s. any airport in america has mechanics and
> parts to fix a 172. it is slow by most standards but i think i see
> 15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
> on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.
>
> i paid 34k$ and wells fargo financed me at 7.75 for 15 years. makes it
> managable. very friendly people. i like them.
>
> i joined aopa and subscribed to trade-a-plane and g.a. news. haunted
> the web for any and all information i could find on airplanes including
> the new light sport stuff.
>
> every evening, or something close to that, i would read the adds in
> trade a plane and e-bay and whatever i could find untill i had a good
> working understanding of the issues around aircraft purchase and
> ownership. i have not been flying much lately because i knew i would
> need the money to buy - not rent.
>
> when the plane showed-up at my local airport, i expressed interest and
> had the owner agree to a full inspection by my mechanic. that uncovered
> an exhaust valve problem. he fixed it and we closed today. yipee!! i
> now own a plane. had my mechanic not examined the plane then i would be
> looking at a grand in engine fix already. now, at least, i've got all 6
> doing well north of 70lbs.
>
> i''ll be joining the cessna pilots assn. shortly. thanks y'all who
> advised there. hooks airport is renting t-hangers at 250/month and i'll
> be getting one tomorrow. i really like having a tin box for my bird.
> anyway, that's my experience so for. hope it helps.
>
> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>
> dan
>

[Guy Byars]

> Autogas in winter makes starting much easier due to its higher vapor
> pressure.


I have heard a lot of arguments about vapor lock, but I do not understand
how vapor lock could ever be a problem in a Cessna 182.

With the high wing configuration, the carberator will always have a positive
fuel pressure due to hydrostaic pressure. How can vapor lock *EVER* happen
in a Skylane? As an engineer, I don't see it happening.

Now, on the other hand, if you have a low wing airplane with a fuel pump,
then vapor lock is a very real problem.

But vapor lock in a high wing carberated engine.... not possible.

[john smith]

In article >,
"Guy Byars" > wrote:

> > Autogas in winter makes starting much easier due to its higher vapor
> > pressure.
>
>
> I have heard a lot of arguments about vapor lock, but I do not understand
> how vapor lock could ever be a problem in a Cessna 182.
>
> With the high wing configuration, the carberator will always have a positive
> fuel pressure due to hydrostaic pressure. How can vapor lock *EVER* happen
> in a Skylane? As an engineer, I don't see it happening.
>
> Now, on the other hand, if you have a low wing airplane with a fuel pump,
> then vapor lock is a very real problem.
>
> But vapor lock in a high wing carberated engine.... not possible.

Au contriare, mon ami!
Piper Tripacer running avgas on a hot summer day can vapor lock.
It's all in how and where the plumbing is routed from the wing to the
engine.

[Brinks]

Congrats! Next thing on your "to do" list:

Go to www.cessna.org and join the Cessna Pilots Association. Lots of good
info on how to maintain it.

Chris

"houstondan" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> my first airplane. cessna 172C.
>
> this group, along with a couple of others, has given me the best
> information as i've progressed. by way of payback, i intend to tell
> some about the process i went thru for the benefit of others who may be
> planning; hoping.
>
> why a 172-c?? well, a couple of reasons. mechanical flaps (you pull a
> rod that's laying on the floor) and the 6 cylinder engine which,
> although it is 5-15 hp light of later models, is smooth music compared
> to the banging of the 4s. any airport in america has mechanics and
> parts to fix a 172. it is slow by most standards but i think i see
> 15/mpg which ain't that bad considering the advantage you get over cars
> on "direct route". i'm retired; i've got lots of time.
>
> i paid 34k$ and wells fargo financed me at 7.75 for 15 years. makes it
> managable. very friendly people. i like them.
>
> i joined aopa and subscribed to trade-a-plane and g.a. news. haunted
> the web for any and all information i could find on airplanes including
> the new light sport stuff.
>
> every evening, or something close to that, i would read the adds in
> trade a plane and e-bay and whatever i could find untill i had a good
> working understanding of the issues around aircraft purchase and
> ownership. i have not been flying much lately because i knew i would
> need the money to buy - not rent.
>
> when the plane showed-up at my local airport, i expressed interest and
> had the owner agree to a full inspection by my mechanic. that uncovered
> an exhaust valve problem. he fixed it and we closed today. yipee!! i
> now own a plane. had my mechanic not examined the plane then i would be
> looking at a grand in engine fix already. now, at least, i've got all 6
> doing well north of 70lbs.
>
> i''ll be joining the cessna pilots assn. shortly. thanks y'all who
> advised there. hooks airport is renting t-hangers at 250/month and i'll
> be getting one tomorrow. i really like having a tin box for my bird.
> anyway, that's my experience so for. hope it helps.
>
> i can see that i'm going to be needing a lot of money for gas.
>
> dan
>

[Michael Wei]

Of course it's possible. On a hot day if the plane is flown and then
parked on the ramp with the cowling closed, the heat under the cowling
can be so intense that it can potentially vaporize the fuel in the fuel
lines forward of the firewall. If the engine is restarted shortly
afterwards it's possible to experience vapor lock. This problem will
be worse if higher vapor pressure fuel is used (such as winter blend
autogas).

The solution is surprisingly easy. During those short turn-around
always open the cowling immediately after the shutdown. That'll let
the heat escape and avoid the vapor lock.

Guy Byars wrote:
>
> I have heard a lot of arguments about vapor lock, but I do not understand
> how vapor lock could ever be a problem in a Cessna 182.
>
> With the high wing configuration, the carberator will always have a positive
> fuel pressure due to hydrostaic pressure. How can vapor lock *EVER* happen
> in a Skylane? As an engineer, I don't see it happening.
>
> Now, on the other hand, if you have a low wing airplane with a fuel pump,
> then vapor lock is a very real problem.
>
> But vapor lock in a high wing carberated engine.... not possible.

[M]

Of course it's possible. On a hot day if the plane is flown and then
parked on the ramp with the cowling closed, the heat under the cowling
can be so intense that it can potentially vaporize the fuel in the fuel
lines forward of the firewall. If the engine is restarted shortly
afterwards it's possible to experience vapor lock. This problem will
be worse if higher vapor pressure fuel is used (such as winter blend
autogas).

The solution is surprisingly easy. During those short turn-around
always open the cowling immediately after the shutdown. That'll let
the heat escape and avoid the vapor lock.

Guy Byars wrote:

> I have heard a lot of arguments about vapor lock, but I do not understand
> how vapor lock could ever be a problem in a Cessna 182.
>
> With the high wing configuration, the carberator will always have a positive
> fuel pressure due to hydrostaic pressure. How can vapor lock *EVER* happen
> in a Skylane? As an engineer, I don't see it happening.
>
> Now, on the other hand, if you have a low wing airplane with a fuel pump,
> then vapor lock is a very real problem.
>
> But vapor lock in a high wing carberated engine.... not possible.

[nrp]

Vapor lock is a starving of fuel at the carb bowl while a low
pressure-high temperature area in the fuel delivery system delivers
enough vapor that the fuel pump can't get to liquid fuel. You just
don't have that situation in a gravity system.

What you may be considering vapor lock in a gravity system may be fuel
boiling in the carb bowl due to radiated heat from the exhaust system.
This causes the float to sink in the "foam fuel". The bowl then
overfills, and the excess fuel is vented from the bowl into the air
intake, flooding the engine.

The key is that all aircraft carbs vent the bowl to the air intake,
allowing a way to flood the engine. This is not very well publicized.

TriPacers probably flood the second way. Cherokees could go either
way.

Does this jibe with any observations? Comments?

[houstondan]

joined c.p.a. but they say they're in the middle of a move this weekend
so it'll be a couple of days before that's complete.

dan

[The Visitor]

I recall some planes getting ito trouble on autogas when they went too
high in the summer.

Guy Byars wrote:

>>Autogas in winter makes starting much easier due to its higher vapor
>>pressure.
>
>
>
> I have heard a lot of arguments about vapor lock, but I do not understand
> how vapor lock could ever be a problem in a Cessna 182.
>
> With the high wing configuration, the carberator will always have a positive
> fuel pressure due to hydrostaic pressure. How can vapor lock *EVER* happen
> in a Skylane? As an engineer, I don't see it happening.
>
> Now, on the other hand, if you have a low wing airplane with a fuel pump,
> then vapor lock is a very real problem.
>
> But vapor lock in a high wing carberated engine.... not possible.
>
>

[Jack Allison]

Congratulations on the purchase Dan. Glad you found this group to be
helpful. I know I sure had the same experience when we bought the Arrow
a year ago. Enjoy your new baby.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-Instrument Airplane
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)